Alleviating Poverty through Agricultural Projects: A Systematic Literature Review

This systematic review examines the influence of sustainable, climate-smart agricultural projects on poverty reduction in rural South Africa. Analyzing literature from 2010 to 2023 across databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, the study assesses how these initiatives improve food security, income, and resilience among smallholder farmers. VOSviewer was used to visualize keyword networks, revealing key research themes and identifying gaps, particularly regarding environmental sustainability and resource access. Findings indicate that while these projects contribute to alleviating poverty, challenges such as land tenure insecurity and limited market linkages constrain their impact. The review emphasizes the importance of policy support, capacity development, and participatory approaches tailored to local ecological and socioeconomic conditions. The insights generated aim to inform strategies for scalable, sustainable interventions that foster resilient rural livelihoods and sustainable development pathways.