Family farming as a way of life plays an important role in the rural territory, ranging from the economic, social, cultural perspectives to the environmental perspective. Producing about 70% of food worldwide; family farming is the basis of sustainable food production; contributing to food security in the long term, preserving biodiversity and as well as maintaining important cultural heritage in rural communities (Family Agriculture Sector Plan 2011-2014, 2012).

For Costa Rica, family agriculture is "a production system that develops agricultural and non-agricultural activities in or out the production unit, where land ownership, management and labor are predominantly family" (Family Agriculture Sector Plan 2011-2014, 2012). In the case of Costa Rica, family farming shows a great variety in forms of ownership, production and market linkages. The direct benefits generated are related to the available resources and family labor; allowing different social family roles, i.e. family labor and employment are generated in the same production unit.

To understand this reality, the National Development Plan 2015-2018: Alberto Cañas Escalante (government administration of Solís Rivera) proposes to strengthen family agriculture in the chapter on sector policies. This issue has also been incorporated as a strategic area of the State Policy for the Agriculture and Food Sector and Rural Development 2010-2021, from which the Family Agriculture Sector Plan 2011-2014 is derived. This Plan aims to help improve the living conditions of families in their territories through the development and implementation of different instruments for sustainable development.

This text is kindly provided by the authorities of this country