Agricultural partnerships such as Contract Farming and Joint Venture arrangements have been on the rise in rural Africa. An appreciation of the implications of partnerships for rural farming and rural development prospects is still embryonic. This chapter draws from policy documents, academic literature, and abstraction to highlight the impact of partnerships such as contract farming and joint ventures on agricultural development and the prospect of industrialisation in rural Africa. The chapter shows that while these arrangements have helped African smallholder farmers and peasants by providing inputs and ready markets, as well as methods for dealing with climate change, they have not significantly revolutionised farming to allow for development and industrialisation. The transportation of agricultural products to cities and abroad for processing has left rural Africa only a provider of raw materials. Policy interventions that are biased towards rural development are needed to ensure that investors engaging in joint ventures and contract arrangements also help steer the rural industrialisation agenda.