The changing face of smallholder farming: Insights from an Amazonian landscape in transition

In tropical regions, over half the population lives in rural areas, mostly subsisting from small-scale agriculture. Smallholder farmers navigate challenges related to a changing landscape, including climate change and market pressures. External interventions from public and private actors aim to improve farmers’ livelihoods, foster conservation, and develop rural areas. However, they often fail to yield lasting positive impacts, partly due to a lack of consideration for farmers' perspectives and priorities. This thesis explores how external interventions shape smallholder farming systems in Madre de Dios, Peru. By using methods such as historical analysis, field interviews, Fuzzy-Cognitive Maps, and a serious game, it examines the dynamics of land use transformation. Findings reveal that interventions often misalign with local realities, and that the most widely available interventions are often of low value to farmers. By integrating smallholder input and addressing systemic barriers, the study offers insights for designing more adaptive, participatory interventions aligned with farmer needs.