Family farming key to meeting food security challenges

The importance of family farming cannot be underestimated. For instance, the rural family production of poultry in Nigeria is estimated at N320 billion while commercial production is N51.2 billion. That is about six times less, indicating that overall demand for poultry meat by the populace in Nigeria is supplied predominantly by the family farms.

In realisation of this important role family farming plays in meeting the food security challenges in society, 2014 has been declared the International Year of Family Farming (IYFF-2014). This was launched at the United Nations headquarters in New York at the weekend.

In a statement by Neil Sorensen, communications specialist, International Land Coalition (ILC), the the 66th United Nations General Assembly officially declared 2014 as the International Year of Family Farming after a lengthy campaign that gained the support of 360 organisations on five continents.

The World Rural Forum, a member of the ILC, is co-ordinating the IYFF-2014 Civil Society programme, highlighting the need to agree on public policies that promote the development of family farming and recognise the right of nations to produce the majority of their food. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations was invited by the UN General Assembly to facilitate its implementation.

In Antigua, Guatemala in April this year, the assembly of members of the ILC declared its full support for the IYFF-2014 in the Antigua Declaration. ILC’s diverse membership, which brings together grassroots organisations, networks fighting for human rights and the rights of women and farmers’ organisations, global research institutions and multilateral agencies, resolved unanimously to encourage the empowerment of small-scale producers and family farmers through stronger organisations, especially of women.

“ILC members universally agree that a sustainable future can only be achieved if there is secure and equitable access to and control over land that protects the interests of the world’s family farmers, which already produce 80 percent of the food consumed in the developing world, despite the incredible number of challenges they face,” said Annalisa Mauro, ILC secretariat network co-ordinator. “Some of these challenges are directly related to land tenure and land governance,” she added.

Small-scale food producers and family farmers are at the forefront of the fight to eradicate hunger. Under the right conditions, their contributions can be increased in scale and transform agricultural systems throughout the world. Addressing landlessness and securing the land rights of people on the verge of becoming landless is seen as a fundamental initial step.

As 2014 approaches, the ILC will work with its members to celebrate the role of family farmers and the critical importance of securing their land rights for achieving a food-secure future.

 By: OLUYINKA ALAWODE