The Global Family Farming Forum (GFFF) has been launched at Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) World Food Forum (WFF).The GFFF celebrates the essential role of family farmers in building sustainable agrifood systems and combating the impacts of the climate crisis.
Objective of GFFF
- Role of Family Farmers: The GFFF celebrates the essential role of family farmers who contribute to food security, nutritional diversity, and sustainable agricultural practices.
- Halfway through the UN Decade of Family Farming: The Forum also marks halfway through the UN Decade of Family Farming 2019-28, which provides a framework for developing public policies and investments to support family farming.
Family Farming
- Definition: Family farming is a means of agricultural, forestry, fisheries, animal husbandry and aquaculture production that is managed and operated by a family.
- Dependence: It is mainly dependent on family labour of men and women.
Importance of Family Farming
- Food Security: With more than 550 million farms worldwide, family farming is the backbone of food production and produces 70-80% of food.
- Nutritional Diversity: It produces diverse and nutritious food and promotes crop biodiversity, especially in low and middle-income countries.
- Sustainable Management: Family farmers use traditional methods and use minimal external inputs to maintain soil health and build natural climate resilience.
Challenges Faced by Family Farming
- Financial Constraints: Limited access to aid, genetics and knowledge.
- Land Fragmentation: Problem of small and fragmented farms.
- Climate Hazards: Impacts of climate change.
- Supporting Generational Succession: Difficulty in younger generations participating in farming.
Other Points
- On this occasion, WFF, FAO, and the Global Framework on Water Scarcity in Agriculture (WASAG) adopted the Rome Declaration on Water Scarcity in Agriculture.
WASAG Initiative
- Origin: This initiative was launched at the UN Climate Summit in Marrakech in 2016.
- Objective: To assist countries in addressing the challenges of water scarcity, including by mobilizing political support in terms of policies, legal and institutional frameworks, financing, and responsible water governance.
- This initiative is a key step to empower family farming and improve global food security.
Food and Agriculture Organization
- The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) that aims to lead efforts to end hunger and malnutrition globally.
- FAO was founded in October 1945, and
- It is the oldest permanent specialized agency of the UN.
- Headquarters: Located in Rome, Italy. • Members: FAO has 194 member countries and the European Union (member organization). • Funding: FAO receives 100 percent of its funding from its member countries.