Family Farming (FF) in Honduras is represented by more than 484.000 families devoted to grain production and more than 11.000 to agricultural enterprises (Agricultural Census, 1993). This productive labor force, mostly comprised of food producers in rural and urban populations, generates 75% of the country’s basic grains. Paradoxically, in the months from May to August, this labor force is in a state of food insecurity. According to figures from the Agricultural Census, 69% of the producers are located in levels of food insecurity; 34% of them are illiterate, 10% are women and 65% are land owners. Their average schooling amounts to 3 years while their average life expectancy is 47 years old. 

Importantly, these same producers do not have access to technical assistance and limited access to financing for a lack of security or high transaction costs, among others. Technical assistance is assumed by the NGO with little coverage in the country, especially for producers located in remote communities as well as in the cities where municipalities have distantly located communication routes.

According to a FAO study, the contribution of the FF sector output reaches 56.5% and generates about 76% of employment in rural areas (FAO, Agricultura Familiar, una mirada hacia América Latina y El Caribe: Recomendaciones de Política, 2014).

Considering the importance of the sector and the situation, 2014 marked the declaration of International Year of Family Farming (IYFF).  Honduras has started a process of planning, understanding and approach to the issue, in which the active participation of producer organizations, civil society and government, with the support and technical assistance from FAO has been instrumental in placing this topic on the public agenda.

It is so for 2014, in the framework of the Forum "Towards A Strategy for Family Agriculture" promoted by FAO, together with the government and producer organizations, the National Committee of Family Farming is constituted with the objective of having a space dialogue between organizations and institutions linked to Family Farming, allowing comprehensive and participatory inputs to generate priority areas to begin the process of building a family farming strategy for the country.

The Committee has been working under the coordination of a Board of Directors recently formed under the chairmanship of the Union of Rural Women of Honduras, the Technical Secretariat (composed of the Secretariat of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG) and the Investigation Board is represented by the Platform with technical advice from FAO), IICA and the University of Agriculture in Catacamas.

Under this scheme and with the commitment demonstrated, the SAG looks to promote investment in agriculture, the development and adoption of policies and programs, as well as to increase the production of goods and services from family farming in a sustainable way, declaring it a national priority.

In this context, it has established the following lines of action:

• Promote policies and instruments to expand the asset base of the farmer (productive resources, infrastructure and capital)
• Strengthen public institutions for family farming
• Promoting effective producer organizations and inclusive
• Market access
• Rational use of natural resources
• Access to financial services

This text is kindly provided by the authorities of this country