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ESTRELLA A. PENUNIA, IYFF SPECIAL AMBASSADOR FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
The Asia-Pacific region is home to 70 per cent of the world’s
family farmers. They work on farmlands with an average of 2
hectares, and with women farmers putting in 50-90 per cent of
farm work. In spite of their small landholdings, they produce 80
per cent of the total food needed to ensure food security of the
region. This is because of the higher use of labour and family-
owned inputs, cropping intensity, diversification and integration
even with smaller capital. The region overall feeds 60 per cent
of the world’s population, producing 90 per cent of the world’s
rice, 40 per cent of its cereals and 40 per cent of its meat.
Yet, out of the total 800 million of the world’s poorest and
hungriest people, around 545 million are in Asia, particularly
in South Asia. They are the women and men who rely on small-
scale agriculture, fisheries and forestry for a living – the family
farmers in this region.
The Asian Farmers Association for Sustainable Rural
Development (AFA), currently with 17 national farmer
organizations as members in 13 countries representing
12 million small-scale farmers, is committed to promote
family farming and improve the lives and livelihoods of
farmers in the region. AFA has a six-priority policy agenda
for family farmers:
• recognition of small-scale farmers, especially women
• secured rights to basic production resources, mainly land,
water, forests and seeds
• promotion of sustainable, resilient, agroecological
approaches
• strengthening market power
• significant involvement in the policymaking processes
of governments
• attracting youth into agriculture.
To feed 9 billion people in 2050 with safe and nutritious
food, AFA will continue to work in partnership with various
institutions and stakeholders to empower family farmers in
Asia to constructively engage our governments for favourable
policies and programmes; implement projects and activities
that build the knowledge and skills of farmer leaders and
their organizations centring on the six themes above; and
continuously experiment, innovate, learn and share. The ultimate
goal is to make farming a profession that gives happy and
decent living conditions to a farming family.
IBRAHIMA COULIBALY, IYFF SPECIAL AMBASSADOR FOR AFRICA
Following the United Nations’ proclamation of 2014 as the
International Year of Family Farming, a global campaign
by civil society emerged to address the problems faced
by small farmers in the context of neoliberal globalization.
Despite initial challenges, family farming, which accounts
for approximately 750 million of Africa’s 1 billion rural
population, is now on the global agenda.
The dynamism of family farming is reflected in the farmer
organizations that aim to provide services that are no
longer supplied by governments. Their economic activities,
implemented in collaboration with other African stakeholders,
have development impacts that go beyond the rural sphere.
For years rural areas – particularly small producers – have
been impoverished due to risky policy choices. The unresolved
issue of youth and rapid population growth is a threat in the
context of natural resource degradation and loss of soil fertility.
In order to reduce poverty in rural areas while meeting
increasing food needs in urban areas, there is an urgent need for
agricultural policies built on the real concerns of African family
farmers. We must invest in the modernization of family farms,
improving their production capacity to increase their market
power and the maintenance of value-added agriculture. We
must reorient agricultural research and advice to the demands
and needs of family farms with public resources provided by
African governments. Finally, the land rights of family farmers
must be freely recognized, guaranteed and secured through
voted legislation at national and continental levels.
Africa has experienced all the economic theories and
concepts developed by others, but the time has come to
change course as the continent faces increasingly complex
problems. The only solution is to give the majority population
– the family farmers – the chance to live in dignity.
MESSAGES OF SUPPORT FROM THE FAO SPECIAL AMBASSADORS
FOR THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF FAMILY FARMING
GERD SONNLEITNER, IYFF SPECIAL AMBASSADOR FOR EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA
More than 80 per cent of our daily food is produced by
farming families. What has made this farming model a
success over the centuries? The characteristics of family
farming are passion, decision-making and risk taking in
the hands of the farming families only. The combination of
these characteristics is unique in the overall business world.
Beside food, feed and fibre production, farming families
provide diverse and lively rural areas. Prosperous family
farming creates the basis for wider economic development
in rural areas. It can help to curb urbanization.
Family farming is sustainability in itself. Farms are handed
over from generation to generation. My family farm in
Bavaria, on the eastern boarder of Germany, for example,
dates back to the fifteenth century.
Family farming is not a static way of life. It is dynamic, and
therefore no clear definition of it exists. Farmers constantly
have adapted to the latest knowledge and science in
managing their farms as I did on my farm with my family.
Recognition and a sound and reliable political framework
are absolute preconditions for farming families to be able
to deliver enough, high-quality food for an ever growing
worldwide population. These preconditions are not met in all
countries worldwide. In my understanding it is catastrophic
that we are still confronted with malnutrition and hunger,
affecting people in significant numbers. Where hunger and
malnutrition are prevalent good governance is missing.
For the development of an efficient farming sector all
over the world access to education, land and finance
are essential. The United Nations International Year
of Family Farming 2014 gives us a unique opportunity
to communicate our diverse needs and challenges to
politicians and society. Modernization and sustainable
intensification of family farming is my core message for a
world of zero hunger.