Plant Production and Protection Division

Agricultural Policies to Promote Family Farming

Shivaji Pandey Director Plant Production and Protection Division FAO

Family Farms
Range in size from 0.23 ha to 23,000 ha Size and number decreasing in the Western world but increasing in Asia and Africa Focus here on farms with: Less than 2 ha of land Multiple crops and activities Limited access to credit and other resources Family-head herself the farmer

Family Farms
Generally highly productive and efficient Have been shown to alleviate hunger and poverty Not the problem but solution to global hunger and poverty problem Bill Gates

Policies to Support Family Farms

Good governance, peace and stability encourage investments Agricultural growth has accelerated in Angola, Mozambique, and Rwanda, and collapsed in some previous breadbaskets

Policies to Support Family Farms

Access to land, other agricultural resources, and capacity building, especially for women farmers

Policies to Support Family Farms

Infrastructure and access to credit and markets

Policies to Support Family Farms

Access to improved technologies and knowledge, especially for women farmers

Seed Systems, Plant Breeding, Conservation

Maintenance multiplication - distribution Technical innovations in breeding and seed systems Germplasm characterization and evaluation Better improved varieties through genetic manipulation Research - training programmes & efficient extension services - good investments

como funciona la AC?

Urea Deep Placement

Urea use reduced by 78 to 150 kg/ha Paddy yields increased by 900 to 1,100 kg/ha Average net return $188/ ha higher than with broadcasting

Policies to Support Family Farms

Input and output prices and smart and perverse subsidies

Policies to Support Family Farms

Support to Farmer Associations, Cooperatives, and companies Contract farming with larger farmers

Thank you

Thank you