FAO’s Development Law Service supports Honduras in drafting a family farming bill

On 7-9 January 2026, the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock of Honduras (SAG), in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) conducted a series of activities and workshops in order to develop a draft bill on family farming. The initiative is part of a technical cooperation project between Honduras and FAO, funded by the Government of Honduras.  

Family farming is vital for Honduras: it provides 56 percent of daily food consumption and represents more than half of its agricultural Gross Domestic Product. Yet, nine in ten producers earn below the rural minimum wage, a challenge compounded by recurring climate shocks. This highlights the need for a legal framework that recognizes the sector and strengthens the institutional arrangements that support it.  

In light of this, SAG requested technical assistance from the FAO Development Law Service (LEGN) to develop a family farming bill. The proposed legislation follows work started in 2019 by the National Committee of Family Farming (CNAF). The FAO Representative in Honduras, Fátima Espinal, highlighted that “We are in the United Nations Decade of Family Farming 2019-2028. During this decade, there have been multiple efforts in Honduras including some initiatives that were already underway and needed to be updated to face new challenges, such as the 2019 bill.” 

In order to develop a robust and representative bill, a validation workshop was held with the National Committee of Family Farming (CNAF) that included the participation of various farmers’ organizations. The President of CNAF, Elías Vilalta emphasized “the importance of developing a bill that enables all small and medium-sized producers to access technical assistance and financing”.  

As a result of this process, the proposed draft bill addresses several key issues for promoting family farming in the country. SAG Minister Laura Suazo said the bill “recognizes and elevates the role of family farming in producing healthy food and creating rural employment”. Magdalena Abarca, LEGN International Legal Consultant, noted: “If family farming has better conditions for access to markets and public procurement, and has more productive resources, we are not only benefiting rural economies; we are also benefiting an entire country, helping to guarantee the right to adequate food for its population”.  

LEGN remains available to provide additional technical assistance to Honduras throughout the legislative process, in order to contribute to the adoption of a family farming law that ensures better conditions for family farmers and the right to adequate food for everyone.   

For further information, please contact Magdalena Abarca, [email protected]