FAO'S WORK ON FAMILY FARMING - Preparing for the Decade of Family Farming (2019-2028) to achieve the SDGs
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FAO'S WORK ON FAMILY FARMING Preparing for the Decade of Family Farming (2019–2028) to achieve the SDGs
FAO'S WORK ON FAMILY FARMING
CONTENTS
PAGES 4–9
INTRODUCTION
PAGES 10–11
KEY FACTS AND FIGURES
PAGES 12–13
FAMILY FARMING AND THE SDGs
PAGES 14–17
FAO’S WORK ON FF IN AFRICA
PAGES 18–21
FAO’S WORK ON FF IN ASIA
AND THE PACIFIC
PAGES 22–25
FAO’S WORK ON FF IN EUROPE
AND CENTRAL ASIA
PAGES 26–29
FAO’S WORK ON FF IN LATIN AMERICA
AND THE CARIBBEAN
PAGES 30–33
FAO’S WORK ON FF IN THE NEAR EAST
AND NORTH AFRICA
PAGES 34–35
CONCLUSIONS AND KEY MESSAGES
TAJIKISTAN
Family farmers harvesting hay in
Tajikistan, where FAO projects are
Cover photo: THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO – A family planting vegetables as part of an promoting animal health.
FAO project that uses farming to help conflict victims. ©FAO/Frank Ribas ©FAO/Vasily Maximov
2
FAMILY FARMERS
PRODUCE ABOUT
80 PERCENT OF
THE WORLD’S
FOOD VALUE
3
FAO'S WORK ON FAMILY FARMING
INTRODUCTION
Supporting family
farming (FF) offers a
unique opportunity
to meet the needs of
future generations
while ensuring that
no one is left behind.
FAMILY FARMERS RWANDA
ARE KEY ACTORS
A woman planting papaya
seeds as part of an FAO
and Global Environment
TOWARDS
Facility programme to
manage agro-ecosystems
and biodiversity.
ACHIEVING ©FAO/Marco Longari
FOOD SECURITY, Today, there are 2.1 billion poor and dietary changes will drive
POVERTY people in the world, of whom food needs up by 60 percent, and
REDUCTION AND
767 million live in extreme poverty already jeopardized agricultural
(WB, 2016). About 821 million production and livelihoods will face
ENVIRONMENTAL people are chronically hungry
(FAO, SOFI 2018). The Sustainable
the challenging goal of providing a
growing population with sufficient
PRESERVATION Development Goals of ending
poverty and achieving Zero Hunger
and healthy food and preserving
a depleted natural resource base.
IF SUPPORTED will have to be accomplished in the
context of climate-change-related
Agriculture produces at least
one-quarter of global greenhouse
BY AN ENABLING hazards that are putting pressure
on food systems and are
(GHG) emissions. The consequent
effects of climate change are in
POLICY increasingly perceived as a driver turn increasingly felt in agriculture
ENVIRONMENT
of potentially vast migratory itself, which is highly dependent
flows. By 2050, population growth on climate conditions and therefore
4
progressively subject to change and Family farmers lie at the heart of crop failures and price shocks and
variability, with obvious impacts on this transition. They produce about for contributing to improved food
food security. 80 percent of the world’s food value security and nutritional outcomes,
but, paradoxically, are often poor as opposed to agricultural systems
This scenario calls for a necessary and food insecure themselves. focused on a few commodity
transition towards a new crops. Multicropping systems are
paradigm informing food systems They collectively represent the more adaptable to low carbon
and rural development, which largest source of employment agriculture, as they are less
puts environmental, social and worldwide and spend their fossil-fuel dependent for production
economic sustainability at the income mostly in rural areas, thus and transport of fresh food to
centre, to ensure food and nutrition contributing to local economies. local markets.
security for all, preserve the
environment and provide jobs and Family farmers are the custodians Family farmers have the potential
social development opportunities of multicropping farming systems, a to promote environmental
for rural dwellers. key asset for enhancing resilience to sustainability of agricultural
5
FAO'S WORK ON FAMILY FARMING
INTRODUCTION
systems thanks to their Young people make up roughly
understanding of local ecologies one-fifth of the population
and land capabilities, and to their of developing and emerging
preservation of seeds and other economies, but in many parts
genetic resources. of the world the farming sector
lacks generational renewal.
However, to play a key role in the The young find it hard to engage
establishment of sustainable food in agriculture – despite its largely
systems, FF needs an enabling untapped reservoir of employment
policy environment that turns its opportunities – and the drudgery
whole potential into reality and and poor remuneration associated
tackles current challenges. with family farming turns them
off. Also, they face major barriers
Rural women are essential to the with regard to access to the
success of FF and rural families, resources, services and financing
as they contribute to farming mechanisms necessary for farming
with their labour and knowledge activity. This is creating a growing
of agricultural practices and trend towards urbanization, with
biodiversity. Women engage in more young people moving away
on-farm and off-farm activities from rural areas in search of
to ensure their families' food new opportunities.
security and diversify income
sources. They account, on Enabling policies for family farmers
average, for 43 percent of the must address the root causes of
agricultural labour force in rural poverty, food insecurity,
developing countries, ranging migration and environmental
from 20 percent in Latin America degradation. This requires a is paramount. This implies
to 50 percent in Eastern Asia and multidimensional and integrated looking at more complex sets of
sub-Saharan Africa. Despite their approach: a coherent strategy objectives, including securing
essential contribution, women to support FF transcends access to land and other natural
have less access than men agricultural policies, as helping resources, achieving gender
to productive resources and small‑scale food producers equality, enhancing market
opportunities – land, livestock, improve productivity is not opportunities, reducing costs and
labour, education, extension enough. Enhancing capacities of inputs dependency, guaranteeing
and financial services, and governments, institutions, producer universal social protection
technology – which limits their organizations and researchers coverage, promoting strong
capacity to generate marketable to design and implement organizations, increasing resilience
surpluses and add value to integrated family farming and from natural and economic shocks,
their production. rural development strategies and adapting to climate change.
6
VIET NAM
A farmer tending to her ducks in
Viet Nam, where family farming has
contributed to reducing hunger by
over 80 percent since 1990.
©FAO/Hoang Dinh Nam
The International Year In 2014 FAO led the celebration of commitment in favour of family
of Family Farming, the International Year of Family farming which has risen to the
the Decade and the Farming (IYFF 2014), which highest global level, leading to
in-between period: focused world attention on FF’s the formulation and improvement
consolidating FF within important role in alleviating of national and regional policies,
the international agenda hunger and poverty, providing programmes, activities and
and FAO’s work. food security and nutrition, institutional arrangements in
Over the last years, FAO improving livelihoods, sustainably support of FF.
has been working with managing natural resources,
governments and other relevant protecting the environment, and IYFF 2014 also significantly
actors to put FF at the centre fostering sustainable development. raised the international profile
of the international debate on The main outcome of IYFF 2014 is of family farming, which was
agriculture and food security. represented by the strong political included in the follow-up to
7
FAO'S WORK ON FAMILY FARMING
INTRODUCTION
the Zero Hunger Challenge rural development policies,
launched by the United Nations strategies, programmes and
Secretary-General in 2012, plans that target smallholders
in the Second International and family farmers, promote
Conference on Nutrition (ICN2) their empowerment, and increase
in 2014 and in the preparation their access to resources, services,
for the United Nations Post-2015 social protection policies, pro-poor
Development Agenda. technologies and markets.
All 15 FAO Regional Initiatives
The Sustainable Development deal with the root causes of family
Goals (SDGs) focus on farmers’ vulnerability, while three
agriculture, on its role initiatives directly address FF as
for achieving sustainable their main theme.
development worldwide, and
on a set of strictly related IYFF 2014 also resulted
issues. The recognition of the in The Family Farming
central role of family farming is Knowledge Platform (www.
highlighted by many different fao.org/family-farming/en), a
goals and targets, constituting an comprehensive and up-to-date
integrated, indivisible set of global digital collection of policy,
priorities that stresses their central scientific, legal, and statistical
importance as key actors in the information on FF that supports
2030 agenda, and calls for actions policy-making and exchange of
towards their reinforcement. experience at different levels.
IYFF 2014 also resulted in a IYFF 2014 underlined that a large
greater focus on FF within FAO: proportion of forest-dependent
following recommendations people in the world are also
emanating from the Legacy family farmers. The global Forest Family farmers’ extensive
Document and all the positive and Farm Facility programme knowledge of agroecology and their
results achieved during IYFF 2014, provides direct support to forest ability to implement it emerged
FAO has been increasingly and farm producer organizations as a main theme of IYFF 2014.
putting family farming at the (FFPOs) of FF worldwide, The Scaling Up Agroecology
centre of its work. enhancing their capacities Initiative was launched in 2018
to manage climate-resilient together with major UN partners
Through its Strategic Framework, landscapes, build sustainable as a way forward to promoting
FAO has worked and continues rural economies and develop and achieving the SDGs by
working with governments and more effective advocacy to drive accompanying and supporting
key ministries to shape pro-poor user-centred FF national policies. national agroecology transition
8
farming, and contribute to the
achievement of the SDGs, by
addressing family farming from
a holistic perspective, including
eradicating rural poverty in all its
forms and dimensions.
FAO is ready to support policies
and multi-stakeholder dialogue at
different levels, and will continue
helping countries to shape poverty
reduction policies and programmes
that are tailored towards FF needs
and strengthen organizations and
cooperatives to improve family
farmers’ and FFPOs’ participation
in decision-making. At the family
and community level, FAO will
continue to empower poor family
farmers to participate in policy
ITALY
dialogue and decision-making
processes that affect their
Global Dialogue on Family Farming
with FAO Director-General José livelihoods. FAO will continue
Graziano da Silva, FAO tailoring support, services,
headquarters, October 2014.
©FAO/Giulio Napolitano
technologies, etc. to the diverse
groups of small-scale family farms,
to better support their increasing
access to resources, credit, markets,
processes through policy and United Nations Decade of Family decent employment opportunities
technical capacity building. Farming, as the natural outcome of and social protection coverage.
the favorable political momentum
It is also important to note generated by IYFF 2014 and its This publication highlights
that 2022 has been declared successful results. In December some of FAO’s work at regional
International Year of Artisanal 2017, the United Nations General and national level showing the
Fisheries and Aquaculture, with Assembly proclaimed the Decade positive developments since
FAO as lead agency. of Family Farming 2019–2028 to IYFF 2014 and underlining specific
serve as a framework for countries levers and processes that need
FAO supported the campaign to develop public policies and to be improved throughout the
for the declaration of the investments to support family upcoming Decade.
9
FAO'S WORK ON FAMILY FARMING
KEY FACTS
AND FIGURES
å Almost 80 percent of the FAMILY FARMS cooperation, resilience, and
world’s poor and food insecure global domestic products
live in rural areas, mostly What is family farming? as well as preserving and
depending on agriculture Family farming (FF) is a enhancing local traditions,
production for their subsistence. mode of agricultural, forestry, heritage and food systems,
fisheries, livestock and community ecosystems and
å Ninety-five percent of the rural aquaculture production which rural landscapes.
poor live in East Asia, South Asia is managed and operated by
and sub-Saharan Africa. a family and predominantly ➨➨The vast majority of the
reliant on family labour, world’s family farms are very
å Most of the rural poor are including both women and men. small, with women-operated
small-scale family food producers The family and the farm are family farms on average
who depend on agriculture and linked, co-evolve and combine only one half to two-thirds
aquaculture for their food and economic, environmental, the size of those operated by
income but face many difficulties social and cultural functions” men (FAO, SOFA 2011).
accessing productive resources, (FAO, 2014). It has been defined
opportunities and markets. as a way of life. ➨➨Ninety percent of the
140 million people involved
å These small-scale ➨➨FF is by far the most in fisheries at the global level
farmers, herders, fishers and prevalent form of agriculture in are small-scale fisher folk.
forest-dependent communities the world, with over 90 percent They supply over 60 percent
are particularly at risk from of all farms – more than of the fish destined for
disasters and crises (natural 500 million – run by families direct human consumption
and/or human-induced) that (FAO, SOFA 2014). (FAO, 2014).
destroy or damage harvests,
equipment, supplies, livestock, ➨➨FF is the predominant form ➨➨An estimated 200 to
seeds, crops and stored food of food production both in 500 million pastoralists
(FAO, 2017) developed and developing herd their animals on
countries, producing over rangelands that cover
å The lack of tenure security 80 percent of the world’s one-third of the earth’s
is a threat to family farming food in value terms (FAO, land surface, and derive
especially in Africa, Asia and SOFA 2014). sustenance from extensive
Latin America. nomadic, semi-nomadic and
➨➨FF is the largest transhumant livestock rearing.
å Agricultural growth in farming employer worldwide. They produce useful animal
and low-income economies is at products in the world’s harshest
least twice as effective as growth ➨➨FF also contributes to environments, and contribute
in other sectors at reducing local market development, significantly to food security in
hunger and poverty. community level these regions (FAO, 2016).
1090% OF ALL
FARMS 80% OF WORLD
FOOD
➨➨Family farmers include forest
communities. Around 40 percent
of the extreme rural poor live
in forest and savannah areas
(FAO, SOFO 2018). The unique
RUN BY FAMILIES PRODUCED BY FF
combination of forest and farm
resources has created complex
natural resource management
systems all over the world WOMEN’S FARMS ARE INDIGENOUS
(FAO, SOFO 2012).
PEOPLES’ TERRITORIES
➨➨Mountain farming is
largely family farming.
Around 40 percent of mountain
populations in developing and
transition countries – about
300 million people – are food
insecure, with half of them
suffering from chronic hunger
(FAO, 2013).
➨➨There are more than
370 million indigenous
people, accounting for
50%−66%
SMALLER THAN MEN’S 80% BIODIVERSITY
HOLD
OF THE PLANET’S
5 percent of the world’s
population and 15 percent
of all the poor (UN, 2009).
Traditional Indigenous territories
encompass up to 22 percent SMALL-SCALE MOUNTAIN FORESTS LIVESTOCK
of the world’s land surface FISHING POPULATIONS ARE RELIED ON RANGELANDS
and coincide with areas that
hold 80 percent of the planet’s
biodiversity (WB, 2008).
➨➨FF is key to enhanced
food security, sustainable
SUPPLIES
300 BY COVER
growth and the fight OVER MILLION 40%
against rural poverty and
environmental degradation. 60% PEOPLE OF THE
OF ALL ARE FOOD EXTREME
CONSUMED INSECURE RURAL OF THE EARTH’S
FISH 11 IN DEVELOPING AND
TRANSITION COUNTRIES POOR LAND SURFACEFAO'S WORK ON FAMILY FARMING
FAMILY FARMING
AND THE SDGs
Family farming is FF IS CENTRAL TO ACHIEVING ENSURE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE,
THE SDGs RELIABLE, SUSTAINABLE AND
a major contributor In particular, MODERN ENERGY FOR ALL
to many of the SDG2 aims to end 7.1, access to affordable, reliable
hunger, achieve and modern energy services
UN Sustainable food security
Development Goals and promote INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE
sustainable ECONOMIC GROWTH,
(SDGs). agriculture. Within this goal, EMPLOYMENT AND DECENT
target 2.3 is dedicated to doubling WORK FOR ALL
the agricultural productivity and 8.5, achieving full employment and
incomes of small-scale food decent work for all women and
producers, in particular women, men, including for young people
indigenous peoples, family 8.7, elimination of the worst forms
farmers, pastoralists and fishers by of child labour
guaranteeing access to land, other
productive resources and inputs, BUILD RESILIENT
knowledge, financial services, INFRASTRUCTURE, PROMOTE
markets, and opportunities for value INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE
addition and off‑farm employment. INDUSTRIALIZATION AND
FF combines environmental FOSTER INNOVATION
sustainability, food security 9.3, access of small-scale industrial
and poverty reduction, and is and other enterprises to
linked to many other goals and financial services, including
targets, including: affordable credit
END POVERTY IN ALL ITS REDUCE INEQUALITY WITHIN
FORMS EVERYWHERE AND AMONG COUNTRIES
1.4, access to resources 10.4, social protection policies
and services
1.5, reduce vulnerability and SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION
exposure to risks AND PRODUCTION PATTERNS
12.2, sustainable management
ACHIEVE GENDER EQUALITY and efficient use of
AND EMPOWER ALL WOMEN natural resources
AND GIRLS 12.3, reducing food losses along
5.A, equal rights to economic production and supply chains
resources and control over land 12.7, sustainable public
and financial services procurement practices
12TAKE URGENT ACTION TO
COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE AND
KENYA
A husband and wife benefitting from FAO’s
FAMILY FARMING
ITS IMPACTS
13.1, strengthen resilience and
Conservation Agriculture Programme to
sustainably improve the livelihoods of farmers. COMBINES
ENVIRONMENTAL
©FAO/Luis Tato
adaptive capacity
CONSERVE AND SUSTAINABLY PROTECT, RESTORE AND SUSTAINABILITY,
USE THE OCEANS, SEAS AND
MARINE RESOURCES FOR
PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE USE
OF TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS, FOOD SECURITY
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
14.B, access for small-scale artisanal
SUSTAINABLY MANAGE FORESTS,
COMBAT DESERTIFICATION, AND HALT AND AND POVERTY
fishers to marine resources
and markets
REVERSE LAND DEGRADATION AND HALT
BIODIVERSITY LOSS
REDUCTION
13FAO'S WORK ON FAMILY FARMING
FAO’S WORK
ON FF IN AFRICA
Actions to improve family farmers’
access to markets will increase
opportunities and reduce poverty.
REGIONAL OVERVIEW ➨➨The RI also aims to create
OF FAO’S WORK decent job and entrepreneurship
➨➨The Regional Initiative (RI) opportunities for young women
on Sustainable Production and men.
Intensification and Value Chain
Development is focused on ➨➨The RI’s main actions are to:
sustainable intensification of • support development of
production and the associated value chains of livestock,
measures needed to address crop and aquaculture;
post-production issues, including • support the development
better handling, processing and of transboundary trade in
distribution, improved food quality agricultural products;
and safety, and access to markets. • strengthen the linkages
AFRICA | FACTS AND FIGURES: • Around 50 million people in SSA are mobile • Up to 80 percent of all wood removed from
livestock keepers (pastoralists) seeking grazing forests and farms is used for wood fuel and
• Family farms feed and employ two-thirds charcoal, a significant proportion of which comes
resources under highly variable conditions.
of the population and work 62 percent of from community forests, traditional lands and
agricultural land. • Pastoralism contributes around 40 percent of small family farms.
• There are estimated to be over 100 million GDP in most countries in the Sahel region.
• Sub-Saharan Africa is generally characterized by
family farms in the 47 countries of the • Small-scale fisheries account for more than low production and productivity in the agriculture
Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). sector and many small-scale producers
60 percent of Africa’s fisheries production,
• In SSA, 95 percent of farms are smaller than with most catches from the sector destined for whose use of agricultural inputs is minimal.
five hectares and make up the majority of human consumption. The majority of farmers are more focused
farmland in the region. on subsistence than selling into commercial
• It is estimated that 85 percent of the markets. However, competition over water and
• Most family farmers in the Sahel region and investments in agriculture in SSA – monetary pasture leads to conflicts between farmers and
eastern part of SSA are agro-pastoralists. savings, labour – are made by family farms. pastoralists in search of grazing grounds.
14RWANDA
Farmers planting a tree at a
Farmer Field School, part of
efforts to promote water retention
and prevent soil erosion.
©FAO/Marco Longari
between family farmers and promotes sustainable EXPERIENCES
and markets; production and inclusive
• promote integrated value chains of wood fuel Mozambique and other
innovative practices and a wide range of other Portuguese-speaking
and use of affordable products coming from forests countries
technologies tailored to and family farms. FFF also ➨➨In partnership with the
the production needs and supports improved dialogue Government of Brazil,
demands of small-scale and engagement of Producer FAO is promoting dialogue
family farms; and Organizations (POs) in and experience sharing on
• facilitate the exchange cross-sectoral policy processes public policies targeting
of knowledge and with facilitated access to Family Farming in Africa’s
best practices. technical support services and Community of Portuguese
experience sharing related to Speaking Countries (CPLP).
➨➨The Forest and Farm Facility climate change and resilience CPLP governments have all
(FFF) strengthens forest and building in a number of started taking steps towards
farm producer organizations African countries. FF characterization and are
15FAO'S WORK ON FAMILY FARMING
FAO’S WORK
ON FF IN AFRICA
currently the subject of a study
being conducted by CPLP’s
Family Farming Working Group
(FFWG), a multi-stakeholder
grouping including member
countries, academic experts, and
representatives from civil society
and the private sector. The study
aims to collect information to
enable governments to frame
national agricultural policies that
are more sensitive to the reality
of vulnerable farmers unable
to access agricultural inputs,
extension services, credit and
other resources.
➨➨Mozambique, in partnership
with the Government of Brazil,
has gone one step further
in laying the groundwork
for a national land registry
system for family farmers.
CHARACTERIZING Through a national seminar on
FF, definition of the concept of
FAO is supporting farmers’
organizations to exchange
FAMILY FARMING FF in Mozambique, and data best practices and generate
INCREASES
collection on family farming evidence‑based data through
and registry systems, the their membership in Family
AWARENESS AND Government of Mozambique
now has the necessary inputs
Farming Observatories (FFOs).
FACILITATES to create the registry, which is
expected to be operational by
➨➨The Network of Farmers
Organizations and Agricultural
INCLUSIVE early 2019. Producers of West Africa
(ROPPA) is facilitating regional
POLICIES TO West Africa
➨➨In West Africa (Benin,
consultation among small-scale
food producer organizations
COMBAT Burkina Faso, Gambia, Ghana, to identify key issues and
POVERTY
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, priority topics to guide mapping
Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo), exercises at the regional level.
16MALI
A selection of melons at a
market in Mali, where
farmers are supported by
FAO’s Integrated
Production and Pest
Management programme.
©FAO/Swiatoslaw
Wojtkowiak
Senegal
The Regional Symposium on
Agroecology organized by
FAO in November 2015 laid
the groundwork for a National
Platform on Agroecology, which
was launched at a Regional
Meeting on Agroecology in Dakar
in 2018. The launch brought 300
people together from all sectors
relevant to agroecology, including
farmers, policy-makers and
academic experts on food systems.
Angola
FAO has supported the
establishment of agroecology
centres in four Angolan
provinces. Led by 35 local
trainers and supported by FAO
experts in Rome, these centres
aim to bring agroecological
concepts and practices to local
Knowledge exchange Mali communities and other interested
FAO, with the financial support parties. The project – a joint effort
and targeted policies of its partners, assisted the by the Ministry of Environment,
are harnessing the Government of Mali in building Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
resilience in the Sahel and Development, and the Provincial
potential of FF. improving the livelihoods of family Governments of Namibe, Huila
pastoralists (over 7 900 households) and Benguela, FAO and the
through the “productive Global Environment Facility
transfers” approach (CASH+). (GEF) – targets five municipalities
This programme combines two and aims to improve livelihoods
complementary interventions – and increase resilience of
cash transfers and productive pastoralists and agro-pastoralists
assistance – to enhance productive, by fostering land rehabilitation
financial and social capacities of and rangeland management
vulnerable households and their through the Agro-Pastoral Field
community institutions. School approach.
17FAO'S WORK ON FAMILY FARMING
FAO’S WORK
ON FF IN ASIA
AND THE PACIFIC
Population and REGIONAL OVERVIEW seeks to redress the high level
OF FAO’S WORK of undernourishment in the
economic growth will FAO is committed to working region where 62 percent of the
place huge demands together with its partners in the world’s undernourished people
region and around the globe to and over 100 million stunted
on scarce resources eradicate hunger. children reside.
making strategies to
The Regional Initiative on the RI‑ZHC has been implemented
sustainably bolster Zero Hunger Challenge in in Bangladesh, the Lao People’s
family farming vital. Asia and the Pacific (RI-ZHC) Democratic Republic, Myanmar,
Nepal, and Timor-Leste and
extended to Cambodia, Fiji,
Pakistan, Thailand and Viet Nam.
ASIA AND THE PACIFIC | FACTS AND FIGURES:
The main thematic
• Small-scale food producers produce almost • Many small-scale farmers, fishers, components are:
80 percent of the milk in Asian countries, and indigenous peoples and pastoralists • formulate food security and
80–90 percent of aquaculture farms in the are displaced due to the lack of nutrition strategy;
region are family based. legal recognition of their customary • promote nutrition-sensitive
tenure rights. While the process of agriculture; and
• The region holds around 60 percent of the tenure reform has been slow in some • conduct data analysis
world’s population and is home to 74 percent countries, in others there has been and monitoring of SDGs
of its family farmers, including small-scale
a significant transfer of forest lands for decision-making.
farmers, fishers and livestock producers.
to family farmers and positive policy
• FF is very diverse, spanning from full-time changes in their favour. The Blue Growth Initiative of
family members’ farming with the Asia and the Pacific aims to
• The rural population is ageing –
support of wage labour, to small-scale and achieve sustainable growth of
subsistence farming. young farmers and men are migrating. Asian aquaculture.
• Family farmers produce 80 percent of the • Eighty-five percent of the global
population engaged in the fisheries Under the initiative, FAO will
region’s food and work 85 percent of the support Member Countries to:
total farmed land. and aquaculture sectors is in Asia
– 96 percent of all aquaculture
• Female farmers contribute up to 85 percent engagement is in Asia, with • strengthen the enabling
of the work on farms but receive barely 90 percent of this estimated to be in environment and governance
20 percent of the family’s farming income. the small-scale sector. of aquaculture and
capture fisheries;
18PHILIPPINES
Reflection in a rice field in Altavas,
where an FAO water-impounding
project aims to improve food and
nutrition security.
©FAO/Jake Salvador
• improve efficiency and EXPERIENCES Bolstering
sustainable growth
of aquaculture; The Philippines: Restoring agriculture can
• protect biodiversity and Agricultural Livelihoods contribute to
ecosystems through in Conflict-affected
combatting illegal fishing; Communities in sustaining peace,
• develop inclusive, fair and North Cotabato. spurring economic
gender-sensitive aquaculture Since 2015, FAO’s activities in
and fisheries; and the region have been guided growth and
• increase resilience of by its Mindanao Strategic ending poverty.
small-scale food producers Programme for Agriculture and
to climate, natural and Agribusiness. The programme
socio-economic shocks. supports the Philippines’
19FAO'S WORK ON FAMILY FARMING
FAO’S WORK
ON FF IN ASIA
AND THE PACIFIC
peace and development FAO financial and technical
objectives by helping 10 475 poor assistance is behind the Farmer
households (52 125 people) in Field Schools in Save and Grow
five municipalities in Cotabato (FFS‑S&G) initiative to ensure
Province recover their agriculture the sustainable intensification
and fisheries-based livelihoods and of rice production, help farmers
improve their resilience. increase their yields and enhance
resilience to climate change.
In addition, FAO has been The initiative brings good
promoting enhanced natural agricultural practices to farmers,
resources governance and provides venues for collaboration
secure land tenure rights in and offers an effective
the Philippines and elsewhere mechanism in training extension
in Asia. Specifically, FAO has workers and technicians. It helps
been fostering the recognition of rice farming families reap better
customary tenure in Cambodia, returns, improve incomes and
Lao People’s Democratic Republic, household food security, and
Myanmar and Viet Nam through eradicate hunger.
the implementation of the
principles and good practices Other Initiatives
encompassed in the Voluntary ➨➨FAO’s Sri Lanka Agro-economic
Guidelines on the Responsible Development Project integrates
Governance of Tenure of Land, small producers into production
Fisheries and Forest in the Context value chains in agriculture by
of National Food Security (VGGT). promoting inclusive business
models, ensuring product
Farmer Field Schools standards respond to real
in Save and Grow – market needs, improving market
Sustainable Intensification conditions, and strengthening The approach involves increasing
of Rice Production (SIRP and empowering producers, the productivity and food security
in the Philippines associations and cooperatives. of small-scale family farmers
Rice is the Philippines’ most (mainly women) in Nepal; and
important food staple and the ➨➨FAO provides technical linking producer organizations to
major contributor to the country’s assistance to the Governments local markets in Bhutan.
annual agricultural output, of Nepal and Bhutan – and soon
providing around 20 percent Myanmar – to implement food and Forest and Farm Facility
of the gross value added of nutrition security programmes ➨➨The FAO-led Forest and Farm
agriculture and employing some under the Global Agriculture and Facility (FFF) work with the
2.5 million households. Food Security Program (GAFSP). Viet Nam Farmer’s Union has led to:
20NEPAL
One of thousands of
earthquake-hit farmer
families in Dhading who
have received grain and
vegetable seed from FAO.
©FAO/S. Gajurel
Industries (FSCSI) have yielded
cross-sectoral platform and policy
networks enabling FFPOs to
raise several policy hurdles to the
attention of decision-makers.
➨➨ In Myanmar, FFF has led to
greater economic empowerment
for women entrepreneurs, helping
them develop as business managers
and negotiate access to credit
from financial institutions; and to
the establishment of the Women
Entrepreneurs Development Fund
within the Ministry of Industry.
Impacts of FFF support include:
• regional-level producer
associations catalysed to
engage in regional, national
policy processes;
• FFPO business capabilities
built from bottom up;
• eight local NGOs supporting
the establishment of
business-oriented Community
Forestry Forest Products
Producers Associations
(CFPPA) at village level in
• seven value chains being • sustainable forest Ayeyarwady, Chin, Shan and
advanced by local Forest management certification Rakhine States;
and Farm Producer (FSC), sustainable agriculture, • average incomes rises for
Organizations (FFPOs), bio-diversification, plus safe hundreds of thousands of
14 collective farm groups and organic certifications. forest and farm producers
and cooperatives being of between 12 and 18
established, developing ➨➨In Nepal, FFF partnerships percent; and
businesses involving with the Federation of • FFPOs representing 177
295 forest and farm Community Forest Users Nepal community forest user groups
households and raising (FECOFUN) and the Federation receiving grants for further
their incomes; and of Nepalese Cottage and Small business development.
21FAO'S WORK ON FAMILY FARMING
FAO’S WORK ON
FF IN EUROPE AND
CENTRAL ASIA
FAO is playing an important role The initiative also seeks to
eradicate rural poverty and
in empowering smallholders and contribute to food security by
vulnerable groups. enhancing competitiveness and
productivity and increasing
income through sustainable
REGIONAL OVERVIEW to empower small-scale family intensification of production,
OF FAO’S WORK farmers, promote inclusiveness better organization, adequate
FAO’s RI on Empowering and reduce rural poverty by services and integration
Smallholders and Family Farms supporting policy, institutions into agri-food value chains.
for Improved Rural Livelihoods and governance, and farmers Pilot projects, farmer field schools
and Poverty Reduction aims and communities. and strengthening extension
services are all tools being
used to increase sustainable
agriculture practices and
EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA | FACTS AND FIGURES: contribute to competitive FF.
• There are substantial differences among Kyrgyzstan have particularly strong family
subregions and countries across the region. farm sectors. FAO is helping family farmers
enhance access to natural
• Around 97 percent of all farms in the 28 • In Central Asia, nearly two‑thirds of the resources, decent employment
countries of the European Union (EU) are population lives in rural areas, with most and social protection through
classified as family farms. people working on family farms, which multi-sectoral rural development
are struggling to survive due to an ageing policy support and community
• In the EU, many farms are struggling due to an
farming population. development. FAO is also
ageing farming population – almost one-third
of farm managers are 65 years or over, the offering support in natural
• FF is important for regional and national food
vast number working on family farms. resource management and
security, but many small-scale holdings are
adaptation and resilience to
• In the Russian Federaton and western not economically viable.
climate change by promoting
Commonwealth of Independent States integrated pest management,
• Women face greater constraints in accessing
(CIS) countries, family farms cover only organic agricultural techniques,
productive resources, livestock, financial
34 percent of all land but produce 62 percent conservation of plant and
of all output. services and markets, and their ownership
of land is limited. Although they represent animal genetic resources,
• In Central Asia, family farms control 40–55 percent of the agricultural workforce and proactive drought risk
71 percent of all agricultural land, producing in the region, women are mostly unpaid management. To ensure women,
88 percent of total output – Tajikistan and contributing family workers. disadvantaged and vulnerable
groups are not left behind, FAO
22GEORGIA
Farmers tilling in Georgia, where
FAO projects are seeking to
rehabilitate seed production and
enhance fishery products.
©FAO/Vladimir Valishvili
is supporting inclusive rural and the needs and constraints of
community development policies, small-scale and family farms
access to value chains and the in seven regional countries
implementation of the Voluntary (Albania, Armenia, Georgia,
Guidelines on the Responsible Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan
FAO IS WORKING
Governance of Tenure (VGGT). and The former Yugoslav
Through national land Republic of Macedonia).
consolidation programmes, the
Organization is also supporting The studies aim to: TO RAISE
countries in addressing structural
problems with small farm sizes
➨➨analyse the development trend
and current state of small-scale AWARENESS,
and excessive land fragmentation. food producers and family farms
in each country;
ENHANCE
EXPERIENCES
➨➨understand the current
PARTNERSHIPS
Ongoing studies on FF political priorities and policies AND SCALE UP
SUPPORT
Through 2017–18, FAO has been affecting small-scale and family
conducting country studies on farms; and
23FAO'S WORK ON FAMILY FARMING
FAO’S WORK ON
FF IN EUROPE AND
CENTRAL ASIA
➨ provide recommendations FAO is also assisting the
on how to further support the government in establishing
development of commercial a nationwide Farm Registry
family farms and ensure (FR) after the resounding
inclusive growth, improved success of the pilot project in
rural livelihoods and reduction the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti
of rural poverty. region. The FR is made up of
alphanumeric and geographical
The studies are relevant information providing users
for FAO, the participating with consolidated data on
governments, donors and other farms, an important tool in
international organizations targeting support programmes
when formulating policy for rural poverty reduction.
and preparing programmes.
Recommendations from the Gender Mainstreaming
studies will feed directly into Gender-sensitive approaches
the formulation of the Country help to address the
Programming Framework challenges of FF, especially
(CPF), the multi-annual regarding women’s roles and
cooperation agreement between responsibilities. FAO’s first
FAO and each country. Regional Gender Equality
Strategy and Action Plan
Georgia for Europe and Central Asia
In Georgia, the Rural 2016–2017 addressed these
Development Strategy issues, focusing on:
2017–2020 focuses on
agriculture and all aspects ➨ capacity development
of rural development, with and raising awareness of
three priorities: gender issues to formulate opportunities and improved
evidence‑based agricultural access to markets; and
➨ economic recovery and policies and strategies that
increased competitiveness; are responsive to the needs ➨ provision of technical
of disadvantaged groups of assistance related to gender
➨ improved social conditions rural populations; equality, human rights
and living standards; and and social inclusion within
➨ economic empowerment agricultural strategies such
➨ environmental protection of rural women through as country programming
and sustainable management of diversification of their frameworks, technical
natural resources. income-generating cooperation projects, etc.
24KYRGYZSTAN
Farmers harvesting cucumbers, part
of an FAO project to help small-scale
community-based agriculture.
©FAO/Sergey Kozmin
WITHOUT
Governance of tenure in
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan
and institutional framework
for compliance with it; and SECURE ACCESS
Tenure rights and land governance
are generally less secure in Central
preparing a roadmap for
VGGT implementation in both TO LAND, PEOPLE
Asia than in the rest of the region,
negatively affecting FF.
countries. The roadmaps are
action plans identifying where
CAN BE FORCED
To combat this, an FAO project
further improvements are needed
and will be distributed to both
TO LIVE A LIFE
in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan governments to help them make OF HUNGER
AND POVERTY
is raising awareness of the the right policies to achieve
VGGT; assessing the legal VGGT compliance.
25FAO'S WORK ON FAMILY FARMING
FAO’S WORK ON FF
IN LATIN AMERICA
AND THE CARIBBEAN
REGIONAL OVERVIEW rural communities’ participation Access to productive
OF FAO’S WORK in sustainable development resources, financial
The RI on Family Farming and strategies. By enhancing various
Inclusive Food Systems for regional and subregional platforms services and social
sustainable rural development for policy dialogue, this RI is security will harness
aims to improve family supporting the establishment
farmers’ access to productive of producer networks to family farmers’
resources (land, water, energy, build a common agenda for potential.
infrastructure) as well as social participation.
financial (credit, insurance)
and non-financial (technical With the support of the FFF,
assistance, innovation, knowledge) Family Farming Producers’ communities in the recognition
rural services. Organizations in Bolivia, of communal lands and in
Guatemala and Nicaragua have designing community plans for the
The RI strengthens producer been able to adopt inclusive sustainable use of land and forests.
organizations by promoting business models and assist
FAO is developing comprehensive
policy programmes for
social protection, productive
LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN | FACTS AND FIGURES: entrepreneurship, inclusive,
• Around 60 million people work on nearly • Over 80 percent of farms are family farms efficient and resilient
16.5 million family farms in the region. in Brazil, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El nutrition-sensitive food systems
Salavador, Grenada, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and decent employment, with
• Eight out of ten farms in Latin America are Panama and Saint Lucia. special emphasis on rural women,
family farms: 56 percent of these (over youths and indigenous peoples.
9.2 million) are located in South America, • Almost 23 percent of agricultural land is
35 percent (5.8 million) in Central America in the hands of family farmers – they FAO works with key
and Mexico, and 9 percent (1.5 million) in hold 13 percent in Andean countries and partners to implement
the Caribbean. 34 percent in Southern Cone Countries. pro‑FF policies.
• Small-scale farms coexist in the region with ➨➨The Specialized Meeting of
• FF is the biggest industry in the
medium- and large‑sized operations – the Family Farming of Mercosur
entire region.
average size of farms dedicated to family (REAF), founded in 2004, is a
• Over 90 percent of farms are family farms farming is 13 hectares, but average farm regional multi-stakeholder policy
in Antigua and Barbuda, Chile, Guyana, size falls to 2.51 hectares excluding the dialogue platform for public
Haiti, Honduras, Paraguay and Suriname. Southern Cone. policies for FF. REAF has allowed
for the setting of common criteria
26GUATEMALA
A family in Guatemala, where an
FAO programme has helped
improve livelihoods and the
management of natural resources.
©FAO/Valentina Stutzin/
Guadalupe Gómez Verdi
for family farming registries in the ➨➨FAO is assisting the Ad hoc farming in the legislative agenda
member countries. In 2012 REAF Working Group on Family Farming on the fight against hunger,
approved the Family Farming and Rural Development and the malnutrition and obesity.
Fund (FAF) which is administrated Ministerial Meeting on Family www.fao.org/3/a-I7354ES.pdf
by FAO. The FAF provides for the Farming of the Community of
participation of FF organisations Latin American and Caribbean ➨➨FAO, with the support of Brazil
in the meetings of REAF, and for States (CELAC), as part of the 2025 and Mexico, has been promoting
implementing its work plan. CELAC Plan for Food and Nutrition South–South Cooperation
Security and Eradication of Hunger. projects to assist national and
➨➨The Central American and the subregional policy initiatives for
Dominican Republic Commission ➨➨The Latin American gender equality, access to land and
on Family Farming (CCAF), Parliament (Parlatino), with FAO’s rural services.
launched in 2016 by FAO and the technical and knowledge support,
Central American Agricultural issued the Model Law on Family ➨➨FAO, in collaboration with
Council (CAC), constructs and Farming in 2017. The Model Law key partners such as RIMISP,
strengthens public policies for FF aims to provide legal and technical IICA and IFAD, has supported
and sustainable rural development. support for mainstreaming family the Andean Dialogue Group
27FAO'S WORK ON FAMILY FARMING
FAO’S WORK ON FF
IN LATIN AMERICA
AND THE CARIBBEAN
(Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador Other initiatives
and Peru) in establishing an Argentina
innovative agenda for family In 2015, the government approved
farming and rural development. Law 27 118 declaring FF to be in the
public interest for its contribution
EXPERIENCES to the nation’s food security and
food sovereignty.
Farmers’ Registries
in Central America Ecuador
Central American countries are FAO has partnered with
establishing national strategies BanEcuador and the Government
for identifying and registering of Ecuador to design a social
family farmers. FAO has also management strategy to facilitate
assisted similar schemes in women's access to financial
Costa Rica, El Salvador and resources. Ecuador’s emphasis on
Guatemala. Both the registry and economic development coupled
characterization of FF will generate with social equity – under the
knowledge and facilitate the umbrella of the Good Life
implementation of differentiated National Plan – has ensured the
public policies in favour of family success of this strategy.
farmers. Pilot projects have been
launched in the Dominican FAO is also supporting the established the Advisory Council
Republic, Honduras and Panama, implementation of “Gran Minga of FF, a participatory space for
where a definition of FF has been Agropecuaria”, an ambitious and policy dialogue on family farming.
agreed by governments and comprehensive public programme
FF organizations. to support the revitalization of rural Peru
areas and agriculture. FAO provided technical assistance
Rural Women Regional in drafting and implementing
Agenda on Family Farming Paraguay Law 30355/2015 for the Promotion
Since 2012, FAO has facilitated An Inter-institutional Technical of Family Farming. The law
a regional agenda on Rural Board for Public Purchases from recognizes family farmers’ role
Women and Gender Equality. Family Farming was established, in food security, agricultural
The Conference on Rural Women making it easier to buy FF biodiversity, sustainable use of
in Latin America and the Caribbean agricultural products and for natural resources, revitalization
held in the scope of IYFF 2014 producers to become suppliers to of local economies, and rural
approved a common agenda the State. employment. This led to the
for cooperation in promoting regulatory and institutional
socio-economic and political With technical support from framework for the Family Farming
inclusion of rural women. FAO, the Ministry of Agriculture National Strategy 2015–2021.
28PERU
Potato farmers involved
in a benefit-sharing
project to conserve
crop diversity and
adapt crops to
changing needs.
©FAO/Sandro Cespoli
Via Campesina, is working with
the Colombian Government
to revitalize rural areas and
improve the livelihoods of
family farmers.
Rural Youth and Family
Farming in the Caribbean
FAO is managing the
implementation of baseline
studies for “Supporting
innovation in integrated
agroecological production
systems, youth employment
creation and youth engagement
in productive processes in
Jamaica, Saint Lucia, and
Trinidad and Tobago”. In Belize,
Cuba, Dominican Republic,
Grenada, Guyana and Haiti, FAO
is also implementing a policy
Under the National Strategy The project involved 12 producer initiative aimed at building youth
of Social Inclusion and organizations and over 300 families engagement in FF.
Development, FAO is supporting and led to 15 trade agreements
the implementation of the Haku improving market access for Bolivia (Plurinational State of)
Wiñay/Noa Jayatai projects. family farmers. FAO is supporting the
These projects aims to develop development of a new
the productive capacity of rural Also, with FAO’s technical legal framework to support
entrepreneurship by enabling better assistance, in 2017 the Ministry local production, farmers’
access to rural services in the forest of Agriculture of Colombia organizations and Participatory
zones of Peru. promulgated a Ministerial Guarantee Systems (PGS).
Resolution launching guidelines for Different stakeholders are
Colombia public policies for family farming. involved in the project, which is
In 2015, FAO partnered with mapping the current situation
WFP and the Government of As international guarantor of of agroecological production
Brazil on a project to promote Point 1 of the Peace Agreement, in Bolivia, including analysing
solutions increasing the income “Integral Rural Reform”, FAO, the legal framework and
and entrepreneurial capacities of FF in collaboration with the developing technical material
in Colombia. European Union and PNUD for training courses.
29FAO'S WORK ON FAMILY FARMING
FAO’S WORK IN THE
NEAR EAST AND
NORTH AFRICA
REGIONAL OVERVIEW Over the next two years, RI-SSFF FF can transform
OF FAO’S WORK will also focus on new challenges rural areas, reduce
FAO’s RI on small-scale FF to rural poverty reduction, such
(RI-SSFF) implements projects as climate change, migration, migration and
that directly contribute increased demand for education, eradicate poverty.
to increasing agricultural water scarcity, land degradation
productivity and incomes of and changing weather patterns.
family farmers, reducing rural RI-SSFF is also developing a
poverty through small-scale partnership with the World Rural
agricultural development Forum to further its work.
in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon,
Mauritania, Morocco, Sudan,
Tunisia, and the West Bank and
Gaza Strip.
NEAR EAST AND NORTH AFRICA | FACTS AND FIGURES:
• Poverty has been in decline over the past • Between 25 and 40 percent of the labour
RI-SSFF is guided by three few decades, but at a slower rate than in on family farms is provided by women
main strategies: other regions. and their role is increasingly important,
especially given the steady increase in
➨➨sustainable and innovative • About 40 percent of the region’s population male migration.
practices developed to boost lives and works in rural areas and nearly
the agricultural productivity of 85 percent of agricultural land holdings are • The region has high population growth rates
farmers and their associations in coupled with growing economic prosperity,
farmed by families.
small-scale family farming; both of which are increasing the demand
• Around 70 percent of the region’s poor for wide-ranging and resource-intensive
➨➨decent rural employment people live in rural areas, and these food production, but there are underlying
opportunities and regional trends that constrain agricultural
vulnerable rural communities are largely
complementary social protection development.
dependent on agriculture.
mechanisms for small-scale • Supply constraints due to declining water
family farmers developed and • More than 80 percent of agricultural tables, soil degradation and desertification
incentivized; and production is provided by small-scale FF. limit production capabilities.
➨➨strengthened capacities • Family farms control only 25 percent of • Human-induced climate change –
of rural organizations and arable land – the average size of a family with increasingly high temperatures and
institutions to improve farm in the region is less than 2 hectares erratic weather – limits and will continue to
small-scale family farmers’ access and steadily decreasing. limit productivity.
to rural services and markets.
30LEBANON
A couple who took part in an FAO project
assisting war-affected resource-poor
livestock keepers in Southern Lebanon.
©FAO/Kai Wiedenhoefer
EXPERIENCES data and documents, as well as are not registered – causing them
interviews with key participants. to implement counterproductive
SSFF regional and national They analysed successful coping mechanisms.
studies experiences, identified policy
In 2015–2016, FAO and other support provided to SSFF in the FAO is working with the Lebanese
partners analysed small-scale region, and provided relevant policy government to strengthen
family farming practices in the recommendations. Potential for the interconnections between
NENA region and produced one employment – particularly youth agricultural and social policies
regional and six national reports employment – was given to help rural communities and
(Egypt, Lebanon, Mauritania, special emphasis. expand social protection coverage
Morocco, Sudan and Tunisia). to farmers and fishers, through:
In Lebanon, family farmers have
The reports aimed to guide limited resources and receive ➨➨supporting national dialogue
implementation of RI-SSFF little to no social protection – on social protection to design
and were based on existing 75 percent of small-scale farmers and implement integrated
31FAO'S WORK ON FAMILY FARMING
FAO’S WORK IN THE
NEAR EAST AND
NORTH AFRICA
and multi-sector social policies
targeting rural areas to
reduce poverty and improve
living conditions;
➨➨supporting coordination
mechanisms between the Ministry
of Agriculture and the Ministry of
Social Affairs;
➨➨consulting with the International
Labour Organization, the Ministry
of Labour and the National Social
Security Fund on extending social TUNISIA
coverage to FF; Fishermen in the port of
La Goulette, where FAO’s Blue
Hope Initiative supports small-scale
➨➨strengthening farmer coverage fishing communities.
and developing productive ©Nikos Economopoulos/Magnum Photo
activities to complement this
programme; and
➨➨creating a farmers’ registry
and ensuring the inclusion of access to social protection systems
EXTENDING SOCIAL farmers and fishers in the social
security system.
and agriculture support services.
PROTECTION The establishment of a
The registry was designed and
AND ENABLING
developed as open-source software
farmers’ registry and has already been piloted and
FAMILY FARMING Lebanon’s digital farmers’ registry
integrates for the first time
tested in five villages (in Akkar,
North Lebanon, and Bekaa, East
IN LEBANON socio-economic indicators on
farmers’ households (gender, age,
Lebanon) before being scaled up
across the whole country.
CAN TRANSFORM education, disabilities, etc.) and
information characterizing farmers’ The Blue Port of Zarzis
RURAL AREAS plots, their locations – building on
information available in the Land
(Tunisia) pilot case
FAO’s Blue Port of Zarzis project has
AND ERADICATE Parcel Identification System (LPIS) reduced distressed migration and
POVERTY
– and their related use. It also illegal activities while strengthening
includes information on farmers’ the sustainability of local fishers'
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