The International year of Family Farming

By Bob Aston 

Family farm a method involving all family members working and earning their living and producing their food on a family farm, will be the key focus of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) throughout 2014. FAO launched the International Year of Family Farming (IYFF) on November 22, 2013 in New York. 

The International Year of Family Farming 2014 is also an initiative promoted by the World Rural Forum and supported by over 360 civil Society and farmers' organizations.

The aim of the IYFF, is to reposition family farming at the centre of agricultural, environmental and social policies in the national agendas, by identifying gaps and opportunities to promote a shift towards a more equal and balanced development.

Farmers planting tomatoes

All this work is being made from the perspective of effectively combating poverty and hunger and the search for a rural development based on the respect for environment and biodiversity.

According to FAO, family farming is a means of organizing agricultural, forestry, fisheries, pastoral and aquaculture production which is managed and operated by a family and predominantly reliant on family labour, including both women and men.

Family farming represents an opportunity to boost local economies, especially when combined with specific policies aimed at social protection and well-being of communities.

Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) plans to remain at the centre of activities around IYFF particularly using Baobab as the primary platform for disseminating key IYFF messages throughout 2014.

In the 69^th edition of Baobab, ALIN carried the announcement of the IYFF Photo Competition where they advised their readers to participate and help to achieve the competition’s aim, which is: to visualize the potential and contributions of family farmers worldwide. This is an initiative of the AgriCultures Network, of which ALIN is a member and the World Rural Forum, in close collaboration with the Asian Farmers Association, CLOC/La Via Campesina and the More and Better Network.

ALIN and Laikipia Rural Voices welcomes comments and opinions about what needs to be done to make family farming better recognized and more rewarding.

One can download a copy of 69^th Edition of Baobab from ALIN website (www.alin.or.ke ) or come to Ng’arua Maarifa Centre to get a soft copy of the Baobab Edition.

Source 69^th Edition of Baobab