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FAO IN THE CARIBBEAN

CARIBBEAN AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION: FAMILY FARMING J . R. Deep Ford – FAO Coordinator, Caribbean Region. FAO IN THE CARIBBEAN. Table of Contents. International Year of Family Farming – An Opportunity Family Farming in the Caribbean – Conceptual Challenges

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FAO IN THE CARIBBEAN

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  1. CARIBBEAN AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION: FAMILY FARMINGJ. R. Deep Ford – FAO Coordinator, Caribbean Region FAOIN THE CARIBBEAN

  2. Table of Contents • International Year of Family Farming – An Opportunity • Family Farming in the Caribbean – Conceptual Challenges • Small/Family Farming in the Caribbean – Characteristics • Alternative Vision and Family Farming – Policy and Program Priorities • FAO’s support for Family Farming in the Caribbean

  3. International Year of Family Farming – An Opportunity • BASIS: The United Nations has declared 2014 the International Year of Family Farming (IYFF) in recognition of: • Important role that family farming plays in eradicating hunger and conserving natural resources globally. • In LAC family farming accounts for more than 80% of agricultural production and generates more than 50% of agricultural employment. PURPOSE: An opportunity to consider our approaches to food and nutrition security and agricultural development given current global, regional and national food system challenges. How we address family farming is important dimension of our response.

  4. Fact on Small Farms and Family Farming in the Caribbean Small farms and family farms have contributed greatly to food and nutrition security in the Caribbean – Rural garden farming on small plots throughout CARICOM region selling vegetables, roots, fruits into local and central markets. Growing grain crops, fruit crops, livestock, harvesting forestry and fisheries resources for export.

  5. Family Farming – Conceptual Challenges Family does not easily fit a template, therefore family farm is not readily defined in the different social and economic contexts of the Caribbean. How might we and do we need to definitively differentiate small farms and family farms? What is the definition of family farming in a Caribbean context? When you say family farm what does it mean to you? • Agricultural census data is less linked to family structure and income and more to farm size and crops.

  6. Family Farming – Conceptual Challenges How many familyfarms are there in the Caribbean if we consider conventional criteria: • The definition of Family Farming – wide definition of farming where key characteristics include: • Limited access to land and capital resources; • Predominantly family labouris used with the head of the household participating directly in the production process; • Farming is the main source of household income for the family nucleus.

  7. Family Farming – Conceptual Challenges Aspects of Caribbean rural context that raises some further questions Can a farm where the Head of the Farm encourages the children to think of not going into farming be classified as a family farm or a sustainable family farm ? Can a farm where the owner is absentee and has another profession be considered a family farm? Can a farm where farming is not really a chosen job/profession but the only or least preferred option for earning a living be considered a family farm? Should a landless or very part time farmer be considered a family farm? Affects targeting, developing programs, allocating resources

  8. What the data says about Small/Family Farming in the Caribbean (1) • 50% of small farm households have >5 persons • Men represent 70% of the farm owners. • Average age of male/female small farmers is 48/55 • 56% of farms are owned by the farmer. • Youth show little interest in farming. • 90% of the farms are less than five acres • 55% of the farm area occupied by small farmers • 59% of farms are classified as diversified • Less than 25% of the household income generally comes from the farm • Less than 10% of households get majority of income from the farm. Principal source of income is off farm - employment, remittances, pensions, are other sources of incomes.

  9. Family Farming and Development Policy Development policy has negatively or at best not addressed family farm growth and development! We have not paid attention to or promoted why “family” is important to farming? Too Technological and economic an approach – Green Revolution programs and Washington consensus policies have not served family farms well. We have given the “family” good reasons to abandon farming – policy has not enabled an acceptable livelihood: labour, service and industrial workers have a minimum wage; attention to farm family incomes abandoned. Large scale commercial farms have been encouraged/promoted/given concessions and targeted at the expense of family farms.

  10. Alternative Vision and Approach needed Agricultural Revitalization and Food and Nutrition Security The Triple Bottom Line Family Farms are central to this vision and approach

  11. Family farming is important to this vision

  12. An alternative Vision and Type of Family Farming in the Caribbean? Too small is not beautiful. Income and Inclusion. Only a fraction (~ 30%) of small holder farmers can be expected to succeed as entrepreneurs in competitive food and agriculture chains. Support for family farming need not and should not be done in opposition to some larger-scale, specialized farming. New policies and programs needed -- linked to family ownership, succession planning, commitment and promoting a new concept of family agriculture. Promote a focus on multiple and differentiated markets and demand points – replacement of imports, organic, tourism, high value, diaspora.

  13. A Targeted Policy for Family Farming • Changing family structures needs increased recognition – integrated social and economic planning of health, education agriculture policy.

  14. Advocacy for Family Farming Caribbean Family Farming Working Group: Working Group has been formed to serve as a catalyst to develop and implement an agenda to promote increased development of family farms in the Caribbean region. Membership includes FAO, CAFAN, IICA, CARDI, UWI, CTA, IFAD . A Regional Dialogue on Family Farming has identified five key thematic areas:

  15. Alternative vision of family farming requires taking control of our Livelihoods, our Food Systems and saving our Planet Our food choices have sacrificed our health - processed foods, obesity and non-communicable diseases. 25c to grower $3 to $5 to processor Ford’s Fried Chicken Remainder to Fast Food Chain • Need consumption and nutrition policy approaches to encourage families in the Caribbean to eat and drink local products – address the reality of externally based consumption in our countries.

  16. Main messages • Establish a clear concept of family farming that enables policy to be targeted to the heterogeneous collection of producers involved and differing sociocultural and historical contexts. • Embrace a new concept of Agriculture and Family Farming that emphasizes the triple bottom line – People, Profits and Planet. • Implement policies and reform our institutions to better serve as architects, incentives, facilitators of a new vision of agriculture and family farming.

  17. FAO remains committed to Family Farmers in the Caribbean Jamaica, Small Ruminant Production: FAO implemented a recent, two year project with the overall objective of reducing poverty and enhancing food security for vulnerable groups. Under the project, FAO and the Government of Jamaica focused on creating a market-driven strategy for increased small ruminant production while targeting family farms. FAO Assistance: The Jamaica Goat Farmers Association was the main institutional stakeholder and beneficiary of this component of the project. The project sought to enhance small ruminant production among clusters of farmers in selected communities through the demonstration and adoption of best practices and innovation in husbandry, breeding, housing, and nutrition of goats. The cluster concept brought communities together and provided a forum where farmers can learn new techniques and share information with each other. St Vincent, Georgetown Craft Makers Association : Local community development organization that had the idea to revive the traditional bamboo craft to generate income opportunities for local youth. With the assistance of FAO, the community group formalized its status as a registered non-profit organization. FAO Assistance:Two local trainers were hired. The staff of the forestry department assisted in allocating the bamboo resources and supported the transport of the cut bamboo. By the end of the project 15 persons, mainly young women were trained in harvesting and processing bamboo and weaving of different types of bamboo baskets and items. They also were advised on how to set prices and market their wares, with a view to tapping into both the local and the growing tourism market.

  18. Let’s work together! Thanksfor yourattention

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