Family Farming

Reconciling rural youth with family farming and unleashing their potential, in West Africa

The perception of rural West African youth is too often biased by the stereotypes widely conveyed about them. Between precarious odd jobs, idleness and the temptation to move, it is sometimes difficult to envision these young people rooted in their rural community. Too often, we don’t ask: Who are these young people? What are their stories? How do they fit into their community? What are their ambitions? How do they

West African rural youth's views on family farming

The basic option made, was to give a voice to young people in seven West African countries around their perception of family farming and life in the rural world and to confront it with that of farmers who could be their parents. This research is based on these «words». It highlights the gap between what young people say and what adults say: this gap strongly reveals a lack of communication

A Kenyan producers’ organization helps a farmer’s avocado business grow

How a producers’ organization helped farmers successfully export avocado to Europe “Before the Forest and Farm Facility Programme (FFF) reached out to us, I faced many challenges in marketing the avocado produce from my farm,” says Paul Mitei, a farmer from Kiptoben Village, Nakuru County, Kenya. Paul says he wanted to know more about how the avocado and tomato value chains worked, and the proper inputs that are critical to

How rural radio has improved farming for Tanzanian farmers

Radio programs give rural communities an opportunity for their voices to be heard “I know that I am privileged to listen and follow different programs aired through MVIWATA FM”, says Odilia Jiovin, a farmer from Kilosa District, known for production and marketing of sunflower, coconut, sugarcane, and sisal in the Morogoro region of Tanzania. “I always take the initiative to share the information with my fellow farmers in our community

Exchange meeting: "UNDFF Action Plans: a pathway for food systems transformation in Africa"

The World Rural Forum with the financial support of the European Union and in collaboration with FAO is organizing the exchange session, titled “UNDFF Action Plans: a pathway for food systems transformation in Africa”. The online event will be held on the 23rd of June 2021 at 11:00 GMT+2 (Madrid, Spain). This exchange session will explore the different opportunities and challenges in the development and implementation of UNDFF National and

UN Decade of Family Farming: Leveraging of successful results to scale-up implementation towards sustainable agri-food systems

The  FAO/IFAD Joint Secretariat of the UNDFF is organizing a 2-day event on UN Decade of Family Farming: leveraging on successful results to scale-up implementation towards sustainable food systems, on 27 & 28 May 2021 from 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm (GMT+2). The event will provide information on the overall progress made on the implementation of UNDFF and related SDGs. The event will be broadcasted with simultaneous interpretation in English,

Event: Who is missing at dinner? (June 2)

Bringing farmers into the conversation on food systems through inclusive communication platforms A UN Food Systems Summit Independent Dialogue exploring the role of communication in ensuring equitable, inclusive food systems When: Wednesday, June 2, 2021 at 9 a.m. ET Where: Zoom https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_hA8BZtl4RRCGyddYZ1farQ When it comes to global food systems, how can we ensure that small-scale farmers have their say? And what are the consequences if they don’t? Farmers know best the challenges

A young Ghanaian woman earning a living from shea products

Rita Adibamoli is a 24-year-old Ghanaian woman from Kasena Nankana Abarjawe district of Ghana who has made a good livelihood from soap-making with shea product. In Kasena Nankana Baobab Cooperative Union (KANBAOCU), FAO’s Forest and Farm Facility (FFF) initiative funded a training for young people to develop skills in making soap from shea and to encourage entrepreneurship. This is how Rita gained the knowledge and interest to use soap making

FAO to hold UNDFF Event on Resilient and Sustainable Food Systems

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is co-organizing a side-event entitled, “Implementing the UN Decade of Family Farming (UNDFF) to face COVID-19 and achieve resilient and sustainable food systems” on February 10, 13:00 (CET) under the 47th Committie on World Food Security (CFS) Event. The event will recognize the UNDFF  as a framework for countries to develop public policies and investments to support family farming from a holistic perspective, thus