Family Farming

Leaders from five continents will meet at the VIII Global Conference on Family Farming

The VIII Global Conference on Family Farming: Sustainability of Our Planet, organised by the World Rural Forum, is approaching. It will bring together relevant family farming leaders from 5 continents, representatives of governments, international institutions, research centres, foundations, consumer, youth and women farmers’ organisations. It will take place from 19 to 21 March 2024 in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Basque Country, Spain. Among the nearly 150 people from more than 60 countries who will

The Eighth Global Meeting of the Farmers’ Forum: 12 - 13 February 2024

The Farmers’ Forum is a bottom-up dialogue on rural development and poverty reduction between farmers’ organizations, IFAD and governments. The Forum guides IFAD operations and identifies opportunities for partnerships. Established in 2005, global meetings are held every four years, with regional meetings organized in between which inform the global meeting. The first cycle of regional meetings took place between 2017 and 2019 in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America, while the second

The future of family farming

Discussion Why is family farming persisting? Hybrid event 23 January 2024 2 pm to 5 pm (Rome time) FAO HQ and Zoom In the complex scenario of agrifood systems increasingly threatened by interconnected and mutually reinforcing challenges, the often-predicted disappearance of family farmers appears both unrealistic and undesirable, given the productive, social, cultural, and environmental functions that this production model provides. Small-scale family farmers indeed continue to exist and develop innovative,

Burkina Faso: Farmers plant trees to protect watercourses from silting up

In the village of Bendougou, about 20 kilometres west of Dédougou in Burkina Faso, 100 fruit trees stretch 500 metres along the banks of the Mouhoun River. Somwaoga François Zida is the owner of the orchard. This morning, he cut branches that had broken during strong winds the day before during the first rainfall. His bright face reflects his joy. He planted the trees to prevent the  soil from washing

From Bourra to the World: How the onion is redefining cross-border trade

In the heart of the Sahelian region, where climatic and economic challenges shape daily life, a beacon of hope shines in Bourra, Mali. It’s the story of a radical transformation initiated by determined agro-pastoralists aiming to change their destiny. This epic, rooted in the fertile lands of Bourra, is a model of cooperation and innovation, revolutionizing the commercialization of onions in a Mali-Niger cross-border dynamic. The protagonists are members of

Socioeconomic revolution in Komondjari: Habbanaye, a beacon of hope

As we begin 2024, ROPPA shares the 33rd issue of “Gems of Family Farms,” highlighting a quiet but powerful revolution in Komondjari. Thanks to Habbanaye, an initiative by the Diéma Association of Gayeri (ADG/K), a beacon of hope has been lit, reducing the socioeconomic vulnerability of many, particularly women and youth, in this insecurity-ravaged region. Since 2015, Habbanaye has charted a remarkable path towards empowering rural communities, focusing on solidarity

Water, the source of life and harmony: The triumph of social cohesion in the Mouhoun loop, Burkina Faso

In the relentless quest for sustainable harmony among various actors in pastoralism and agriculture, an extraordinary project has emerged in the Mouhoun Loop region of Burkina Faso. This initiative, focused on social cohesion and peaceful pastoral mobility, stands as a beacon of development for rural communities. It embodies the very essence of ROPPA’s weekly column “Les Pépites des Exploitations Familiales” (The Gems of Family Farms), which celebrates its 30th edition.

Sahel farmers embrace innovative technologies to boost agriculture

In a promising development for Sahel farmers, a recent monitoring mission by the National Council for Rural Consultation and Cooperation (CNCR) of Senegal revealed the successful adoption of new production technologies in the Niakhar municipality of the Louga region and the Ouarkhokh municipality of the Fatick region of Senegal. As part of the Sustain Sahel project, the CNCR team visited six relay producers who are putting these research-backed techniques into

Triumph of solidarity in the three-borders zone of Burkina Faso

In the heart of Burkina Faso, the National Federation of Cooperative Societies of Livestock Farmers of Burkina Faso (SCOOP-CA/FEB) stands out as a beacon of resilience and harmony, showcasing the transformative power of social engineering in resolving community conflicts related to the exploitation of natural resources. It is with immense pleasure that we share this inspiring story in the 24th issue of our weekly column ” Gems of Family Farms”

EVENT: YOUNG FARMERS’ ROUNDTABLE 2023 (20 October 2023)

SUPPORTING YOUTH AND THE GENERATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY OF FAMILY FARMING Organized within the framework of the UN Decade of Family Farming (2019-2028) and hosted by the World Food Forum, the Young Farmers’ Roundtable promotes youth engagement and seeks to ensure the generational sustainability of family farming.  Ageing in family farming across the world is a serious issue. Action must be taken to preserve and pass on the precious knowledge of long-experienced