Poverty and vulnerability combine in a vicious circle for many family farmers. To break that and turn it into a virtuous cycle, resilience must be built into farming and the systems in which farmers operate. There is an urgent need for a change in mindset regarding family farming, agriculture and...

The current food system is exploiting the ignorance of consumers, while maintaining an old-fashioned image of the farmer. But this is changing, says young columnist Pavlos Georgiadis, as he explains how alternative systems for producing, distributing and appreciating food are advancing.

Conferencia completa de Cassio Luiselli, investigador mexicano, en el marco del Foro “Agricultura Familiar y Juventud” realizado en la sede central del Instituto Interamericano de Cooperación para la Agricultura (IICA), en San José de Costa Rica. La AF, en opinión de Cassio Luiselli, es el núcleo del sistema alimentario global. Su...

Sub-Saharan Africa has just experienced one of the best decades of growth since the 1960s. Between 2000 and 2012, gross domestic product (GDP) grew more than 4.5 percent a year on average, compared to around 2 percent in the prior 20 years (World Bank various years). In 2012, the region's...

The applicant of this project is a 38 years old farmer who meets the minimum requirements in terms of education, by graduating the Melle Agricultural College in the year 1990. Between 1990 and 2008 he supported his father in the development of the farm activity. In 2008, when his father...

This paper examines the current interest in addressing the problem of young people’s unemployment in Africa through agriculture. Using notions of transitions and mobilities we set out a transformative work and opportunity space framework that privileges difference and diversity among work opportunities, rural areas and young people. We argue that...

Youth un- and under-employment are critical issues facing Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In spite of urbanisation and industrialisation, agriculture remains the principal employer and producer throughout SSA. Thus, a more modern and profitable agriculture sector (including aquaculture, fisheries, forestry and livestock) is required to generate much needed decent employment opportunities for the Continent’s...

 The main message from the consultation is that family farming plays a crucial role in the region’s agriculture, fisheries and food security, and therefore measures to support family farming should be an integral part of all agriculture development and food security strategies. The consultation highlighted the importance of policy measures...

On March 28, 2014 the Farmers’ Congress was held with the participation of Georgian farmers to voice out the problems and constraints in the field of agriculture. The Congress also addressed two global campaigns supporting the agricultural development: Oxfam campaign - “Food and Climate Changes 2014-2015” and UN/World Farmers Forum...

Agricultural educators – whether extension agents from public or private sector, university professors, school teachers or farmers themselves – need to become agents of change. They need to support farmers in the task of reconnecting to the agro-ecosystems that they manage, rather than becoming increasingly disconnected from them. This issue...

African governments, international agencies and NGOs are calling for policies which pay more attention to young people and agriculture.  This policy brief draws on research findings by Future Agricultures and asks: What are the expectations and aspirations of young rural men and women? What are the constraints and opportunities facing...

This Issue of Nature & Faune puts forward the case of “African Youth in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development”. It carries twenty one articles contributed by different individuals, from: policy arena, conservation NGOs; the private sector; civil society groups; research and academia as well as youth groups. The United...

Family farming matters. In Africa, 60 to 70% of producers live in rural areas and they produce most of what Africa’s people consume. However, despite this contribution, family farming is often sidelined in academic discussions and in agricultural policies.

This paper sheds light on how to harvest the "youth dividend" in Sub-Saharan Africa by creating jobs in agriculture. The agriculture that attracts the youth will have to be profitable, competitive, and dynamic. These are the same characteristics needed for agriculture to deliver growth, to improve food security, and to...

The concept of family farming is the recipient of much high-level political capital right now...  The United Nations has declared 2014 the International Year of Family Farming, the primary aim of which is to promote, develop and strengthen all types of familyoriented agriculture - from horticulture and livestock to fisheries and forestry - as a socially...

Esta serie de estudios de caracterización sociodemográfica de las juventudes rurales tiene como objetivo aportar con información actualizada sobre este sector de la población tanto a nivel nacional como municipal o distrital, a modo de servir como insumo para el Programa, operaciones del FIDA, así como otros organismos involucrados en...

Esta serie de estudios de caracterización sociodemográfica de las juventudes rurales tiene como objetivo aportar con información actualizada sobre este sector de la población tanto a nivel nacional como municipal o distrital, a modo de servir como insumo para el Programa, operaciones del FIDA, así como otros organismos involucrados en...

Esta serie de estudios de caracterización sociodemográfica de las juventudes rurales tiene como objetivo aportar con información actualizada sobre este sector de la población tanto a nivel nacional como municipal o distrital, a modo de servir como insumo para el Programa, operaciones del FIDA, así como otros organismos involucrados en...

El propósito de esta serie de estudios es aportar información actualizada sobre las principales características demográficas y sociodemográficas de las juventudes rurales de la región, tanto a nivel nacional como municipal o distrital, a modo de servir como insumo para las operaciones del FIDA, así como otros organismos involucrados en...

El Programa Juventud Rural Emprendedora de PROCASUR se propone contribuir a la reducción de la pobreza de la juventud rural de América Latina, apoyando la implementación de las operaciones que financia el FIDA, destinadas a mejorar el acceso de los jóvenes rurales a iniciativas de desarrollo, relevantes para sus estrategias...