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.
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 69th 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 69th
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 69th Edition of Baobab
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