3

Family farming is increasingly involved in varyingly broad commercial networks, which often reinforces inequalities and reduces small farmers’ autonomy. This can be seen through the comparative analysis of two different regions (Western Cameroon and Southern Tunisia): both are highly hierarchical rural societies which are linked to an agroexport system, yet they have evolved radically differently. Both cases are characterized by harsh competition for natural resources and a clear split between a minority of large-scale farmers and a majority of family farmers, with a growing differentiation among the latter.