2014 is marked as "International Year of Family Farming" and Conferences / Symposiums are held at many countries in commemoration of Family Farming. What is the status of Family Farming in various countries in the world? Is it growing well or on decline? How can Governments contribute for the welfare of family farming? Thank you!
Best wishes, Sundar
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, “farm commodity payments reach only about 25 percent of U.S. farms, although those farms control about 80 percent of cropland and 50 percent of all agricultural land.” Large-scale family farms (those with annual sales of $250,000 or more) and nonfamily farms received over 70 percent of commodity payments in 2009.
http://www.taxpayer.net/library/article/who-will-benefit-from-another-1-trillion-farm-bill
The United Nations declared 2014 the International Year of Family Farming (IYFF) to recognize the importance of family farming in reducing poverty and improving global food security. The IYFF aims to promote new development policies, particularly at the national but also regional levels, that will help smallholder and family farmers eradicate hunger, reduce rural poverty and continue to play a major role in global food security through small-scale, sustainable agricultural production.
The IYFF provides a unique opportunity to pave the way towards more inclusive and sustainable approaches to agricultural and rural development that:
Recognize the importance of smallholder and family farmers for sustainable development
Place small-scale farming at the centre of national, regional and global agricultural, environmental and social policies;
Elevate the role of smallholder farmers as agents for alleviating rural poverty and ensuring food security for all; as stewards who manage and protect natural resources; and as drivers of sustainable development.
http://www.ifad.org/events/iyff/
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, “farm commodity payments reach only about 25 percent of U.S. farms, although those farms control about 80 percent of cropland and 50 percent of all agricultural land.” Large-scale family farms (those with annual sales of $250,000 or more) and nonfamily farms received over 70 percent of commodity payments in 2009.
http://www.taxpayer.net/library/article/who-will-benefit-from-another-1-trillion-farm-bill
Dear @Sundar, picturesque presentation of several family farms in Serbia farm is attached! Unfortunately, Serbian Government have some strategies toward the help and support of family farming, but, after massive floods, it seems that such help is lacking!
SERBIA Country Report - Study on the State of Agriculture in Five Applicant Countries is very detailed document which covers the issue of farming and family farming. Many data are available through this document!
http://farmfutures.com/blogs-life-in-serbia-2377
http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/analysis/external/applicant/serbia_en.pdf
Water shortage is the world problem. Dear @Kamal, unfortunately, massive floods in Serbia six months ago have destroyed many family farms. Some prevention must take place!
FAO brings practical help to flood-hit Serbian farmers!
http://www.fao.org/europe/regional-home/55news/en/
Dear @Sundar, the very first Biodynamic farm in Serbia! International cooperation! Nice!
http://www.workaway.info/514982891682-en.html
I thank you all for highly informative articles!
When I stayed at USA, I used to buy vegetables and fruits only from "Farmers' Market" near my home. They are very nice people, and they sold fresh vegetables and fruits for a very nominal price.. I got warm memories..
With best wishes, Sundar
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