International Year of Family Farming

Written by Young Farmers’ Clubs

This post is undoubtedly a little late, we’re in our fourth month of 2014, but the point is we’re still in 2014 and 2014 is “The International Year of Family Farming”!!!!!

The International Year of Family Farming is, “an effort to highlight the potential, family farmers have to eradicate hunger, preserve natural resources and promote sustainable development.” (www.un.org)

Here are a few facts and figures about family farming around the world:-

Key Facts

• There are over 500 million family farms
• They make up over 98% of farming holdings
• They are responsible for at least 56% of agricultural production on 56% of the land

Family farmers also work on a significant portion of the world’s farming land, regional averages are:-

• 85% in Asia
• 62% in Africa
• 83% in North and Central America
• 68% in Europe
• 18% in South America (www.fao.org/family-farming-2014/en/)

Family farming is hoped to assist in eradicating hunger, food insecurity, malnutrition and poverty. Therefore it is important for us to recognise their contribution and give them a greater role in policy making within our different countries.

Take a look at the video “Launch of the International Year of Family Farming”:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcH0f1qu25k