Family Farming

Family farming is a major source of food production and rural job creation in Latin America and the Caribbean.

It is fundamental to food security, since it produces the bulk of food for domestic consumption. On average, 80 per cent of total farmland is used in family farming, which accounts for between 30 and 40 per cent of regional agricultural GDP.

Family farming also plays a critical role in agricultural employment, providing for at least half of the jobs in rural agriculture, and up to 77 per cent as in the case of Brazil

Nevertheless, it has not been given the importance it deserves in the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. The sector is in need of specifically designed public policies to expand access to credit, facilitate market access and provide production support and agricultural extension.

During the Twenty-first Regional Conference, FAO Member Countries declared that it was essential to prioritize basic food production by family farms, increase the integration and participation of small farmers in the market and reduce transaction costs to encourage their equal participation in value chains.

More Information

• Medium-term strategic framework for FAO cooperation in family farming in Latin America and the Caribbean
• Report on FAO Activities in the Region (2008–2009)
• Family Farming Policy Programme
• Family Farming * Five-thousand family farmers in high-Andean regions in Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador participate in a project to increase sustainable production of native Andean crops