Investment for agriculture and especially for smallholders is acknowledged to be an absolute necessity, especially as the majority of the hungry people in the world are, paradoxically, small farmers. The topic first requires us to understand what we are talking about – what is smallholder agriculture – and to reflect upon the very future of small-scale agriculture. We are often confronted with very contrasting visions based on national situations and trajectories. The majority of investments in agriculture are realized by farmers themselves. Therefore, the main issue is to better understand what smallholders need to be able to invest.
This report contains the analysis and recommendations of the HLPE as approved by its Steering Committee at its meeting held in Beijing, 13–15 May 2013.
