By examining three different models of commercial agriculture – a plantation, a commercial farming area, and an out-grower scheme – we observe heterogeneous impacts on different segments of rural communities. Each produces gender and generational differentials in employment and other income-earning opportunities. Our study supports the hypothesis that the plantation model typifies the ‘enclave’ economy that is poorly integrated into the surrounding communities and the local economy. While out-grower schemes have often been favourably compared to plantations, our evidence on the Magobbo sugarcane out-grower scheme points to the contrary: its block farming model consolidates smallholdings and creates a peasant-shareholder class. Shareholder ‘out-growers’ receive dividends from what is essentially an extension of the plantation. This accumulation for a few also produces land scarcity and fragile semi-proletarianised livelihoods for others. By contrast we find that the commercial farming model, while based on an elite form of large-scale commercial farming, does provide benefits to surrounding areas, through employment and local economic linkages.