Small-scale family farming in changing food systems

By Sophia Amoah (Knowledge Management Intern, FARA, Ghana)

A picture depiction of a small farmer family. Photo Credit: Brand Spur

FAO defines family farming as: “a means of organizing agricultural, forestry, fisheries, pastoral, and aquaculture production which is managed and operated by a family and predominantly reliant on family capital and labor, including both women’s and men. The family and the farm are linked, co-evolve, and combine economic, environmental, social, and cultural functions” (FAO 2013, p.2). Small-scale family farming accounts for more than 80% of agricultural production and about 75% to 85% of agricultural lands in the Near East and North Africa, which face several obstacles in attaining increased food security, nutrition, and agricultural development.

More than 80% of all farms in the world are family farms with less than 2 hectares of land. Farms of less than 2 hectares are estimated to account for 75 percent of farms…

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About Dr. Bukar USMAN, mni

I started as a field Veterinary officer with Borno State Ministry of Agriculture and later joined College of Agric, Maiduguri as a lecture & a Researcher in the Department of Animal Health & Production. I was appointed the Provost of the College In 2003. In 2007 I was appointed Hon. Commissioner & Member Borno State Executive Council and later appointed Permanent Secretary with the Borno State Civil Service in 2009. I was the National Facilitator Animal Health, National Programme For Food Security of the Federal Ministry of Agric & Rural Development, Abuja. I was Director, Veterinary Medicine & Allied Products (VMAP) and now Director North East Zone NAFDAC. I’m a member of the National Institute’ (mni), Kuru SEC 40, 2018. I engaged myself in various aspects of the veterinary profession. I founded Sril Group Ltd, Nigeria.

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