The Family Farming sector is made up of individuals who maintain strong family ties among themselves. They bring on the one hand, productive work and secondly, the ownership over the means of production, albeit it is not always the land itself. It is also where the transmission of values, practices and experiences are done. Furthermore, family farming is characterized by performing agricultural, livestock, fisheries, forestry production activities, agro-industrial artisan production, traditional harvesting, handicrafts and rural tourism. According to the National Institute of Statistics, the latest official data available from the National Agricultural Census (2002) shows that 72% of argentine agricultural establishments maintain family-type features and approximately 250.000 are distributed throughout the country. A higher amount for last year is estimated.

Over a total of 100.000 family farmers enrolled in the National Register of Family Agriculture (ReNAF) which created an identification to characterize the sector. 74% make animal production, 68% plant production, 15% agro-industrial production, 9% done marketing crafts, 9% collection activities, 3% hunting activities, and 1% rural tourism. These activities are not exclusive to each other as the sector is characterized by the diversification of its production.

In terms of distribution, family farmers are located in the territory as follows: 37% in the Pampas region, 21% in northwestern Argentina, 21% northeast, 15% in the Cuyo region and 6% in Patagonia.

From 2003, it is observed by the Federal Government's decision to institutionalize policies for family farming (FF). This is manifested in the work and participation of Family Agriculture Forum, created in 2004, from the Foreign Ministry.

This is manifested in the work and participation of the Reunión Especializada de Agricultura Familiar del MERCOSUR (REAF) in 2005, where work associated between the State and organizations of civil society were concretized from the creation of the Family Farming National Register (ReNAF), in 2007.

By 2014, the former Secretary of Rural Development and Family Agriculture, established in 2008, became the Secretary of Family Farming months after Congress approved the new Law 27.118 of "Historical Reparation of Family Farming for construction of a new rurality in Argentina ".

The main policies carried out by the Ministry of Family Farming seeks to generate public information on the sector, especially through ReNAF on the access to specific social policies such as agriculture “monotributo,” differential subsidies, responsibility union agreements, institutional strengthening programs and implementation of specific programs for the sector.

Regarding the institutions linked to the Faming Farming, other national agencies working together are the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) and the National Health Service and Food Quality (SENASA), through its specific programs for Family Farming and the program of Unit for Rural Change (UCAR), which also belongs to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Nation.

This text is kindly provided by the authorities of this country.