Behind Every Business: Smallholder Struggles and Shared Hope

‘Through fields of uneven fortune and lean harvests, untiring hands of the farming communities across the Global South cultivate life and hope against the odds.’

In agricultural societies of developing economies, small-scale farmers rise early to farm the lands that have sustained their families for generations. Their labour, however, extends far beyond local needs—these crops fuel regional economies, support industrial supply chains, and cross borders to feed communities in the Global North. Despite playing a critical role in global food systems, many remain excluded from the very structures that promise growth and prosperity (Carter et al., 2022).

This research brief is the voice of hundreds of smallholder communities of Pakistan, quietly and steadily enduring hardship while feeding others near and far. Many cannot afford the quality seeds to sow or the tools to grow, and others watch their harvests sold for pennies, while fair prices remain out of reach. Loans are distant promises, and the helping hand of the state rarely finds its way to their fields.

Nevertheless, these challenges are not only about money or machinery. They are rooted in age-old patterns, where a person’s place in society, family name, or political connections often decide how far they can go (Khan et al., 2025). These communities are held back by invisible walls built long ago, where old customs and powerful landowners still dominate decisions (Ishaya et al., 2025; Khan et al., 2025).

Despite these systemic barriers, signs of transformation are emerging.

A local initiative, “Growing Together,” is catalysing change from within. Two groups are leading this shift: progressive large-scale landlords advocating for equity, and young, educated smallholders returning to their villages with new knowledge and deep-rooted commitment. Together, they are proving that change does not have to be externally imposed—it can flourish from the ground up (Heywood & Vaughn, 2024).

On this platform, farmers are not waiting for external aid—they are supporting one another. Beneath tree canopies and in shaded courtyards, they share strategies for strengthening crops, optimising resources, and asserting their rights. These peer-to-peer learning circles are building not just knowledge, but confidence.

They are also forming cooperatives—farmer-led groups that collectively purchase inputs, sell produce at fairer prices, manage interest-free loans, and share in each other’s success. These cooperatives are bypassing exploitative intermediaries and engaging directly with exporters and buyers. This model is not only increasing income and sustainability, but also restoring dignity to farmers who have long been marginalised.

Now in its fourth year, this extensive, community-driven field research to find alternative socioeconomic models for the marginalised communities continues to demonstrate that enduring progress cannot be externally engineered. True transformation begins with listening, peer-to-peer learning, and mutual support. It underscores the strength of the community, the resilience of smallholders, and the catalytic role of collaboration between resource holders and the historically excluded.

‘For business leaders and sustainable development practitioners, the message is clear: real change begins when people are seen, heard, and included. Investing in inclusive, community-led agricultural models is not only an ethical imperative—it is a strategic pathway to resilience, equity, and long-term sustainability’.

Muhammad Khan (Correspondence Author).

Email address: Kkhan@live.harper.ac.uk; khani.kalyani@gmail.com

Harper Adams University, United Kingdom

Professor Karl Behrendt

Email address: kbehrendt@harper-adams.ac.uk

Harper Adams University, United Kingdom

Professor Lydia Arnold

Email address: larnold@harper-adams.ac.uk)

Harper Adams University, United Kingdom

Dr Dimitrios Papadas

Email address: dpaparas@harper-adams.ac.uk

Harper Adams University, United Kingdom

Dr Aneela Sultana

Email address: as521@rice.edu; aneela@qau.edu.pk

Rice University, Houston, United States; Quaid E Azam University, Pakistan

References

Carter, L., Cosijn, M., Williams, L. J., Chakraborty, A., & Kar, S. (2022). Including marginalised voices in agricultural development processes using an ethical community engagement framework in West Bengal, India. Sustainability Science, 17(2), 485-496.

Heywood, L. M., & Vaughn, L. (2024). Financial inclusion to protect vulnerable populations from modern slavery: A compilation of practices. United Nations University Centre for Policy Research, 1-28.

Khan, M., Behrendt, K., Arnold, L., Papadas, D., & Sultana, A. (2025). In the Shadows of Fields: Uncovering the Nexus of Modern Slavery in Agricultural Societies. Sociology Compass, 19(5), e70069.

Ishaya, B., Paraskevadakis, D., Bury, A., & Bryde, D. (2025). Problematizing socially sustainable global supply chains: Theoretical insights, contextual challenges, and the issue of modern slavery. International Studies of Management & Organization, 55(2), 205-232.