Small Scale Farmers And Food Security
Sustainability of the food system has been a big question in the recent years, and with the modernization of the agriculture, sustainability was supposed to be maintained, but the condition is not as expected. Looking at the current agricultural practices, I feel like the sustainability is at stake. Agriculture has always been a risk business, and glancing the current scenario; climate change, severity of extreme weather, scarcity of resources, increasing population and other factors has made agriculture riskier than ever. Apparently, it is necessary to have a food system that are economically, socially and environmentally sustainable if we are to maintain food security and we, indeed, need to find a way. Agriculture policies need to be redeemed, actually.
About 815 million people go to bed hungry, daily. And if the current situations are not mitigated in time, the number will certainly increase. So, how can we maintain the food security? Small farm holders! yes, why not? They could give us a break. More than 80% of the worlds food is produced by these small scale farmers, family farms. And what we are doing! we are still continuing with the 20%. The majority producer has been marginalized and how could we even think of food security with such policy. Small scale farmers can play a crucial role in establishing the sustainable food system.
Small Scale Farmers And Food Security
Almost all of these small farms are in the developing countries and they support around 2 billion people. Small farm holders are looking for opportunities. All farmers need access to inputs and financial services; they need trainings in livestock and crop management and to improve their capacity to manage farms.
The major misconception is that small farms are synonymous with poor farms.
It is not simply true. Small farms are predominant in many rich and developed countries like Japan, Korea, Switzerland etc. When the small farms are successful, the rural economics would be strong. Then, many people could get eployment opportunities in their own place and they don't have to migrate to urban areas for better job and opportunities. As a result of migration, social and political instability, scarcity of resources, unemployment etc are aggravated as a result of inequality. And this is where poverty and hunger are most trenched.
Small scale farms are the most diversified farms. One of the agricultural pathways towards sustainable food and nutrition security is through local production of nutritious food and this is where small scale farmers play a crucial role. As a consumer, almost all of the people in developing countries count heavily on their local small farms holders to satisfy their food needs. But, the small scale farmers are not able to produce up to the mark as a result of which many people go undernourished. So the thing is we must find why the production in small farms is not as expected and try to solve them. The small scale farmers faces the following challenges:
- Farming is primarily rain-fed and the practices are unsuitable which decrease productivity.
- Most of the farmers don't have any rights to the land they farm.
- Lack of adequate capital
- Many small scale farmers are women and their skills are underestimated.
- Lack of proper processing and harvesting techniques.
- The impacts of climate change.
Despite so many challenges the contribution of the small scale farmers to global food production is remarkable. Until recent time, their role has not been recognized and not taken as a variable in agricultural development.
Role of Small scale farmers in food security and nutrition
Unfortunately, the agriculture system was working on " Bigger the Better" model until recently. The small scale farmers have direct as well as indirect impact in the food security and the link is commendable.
- Research have shown that most of the small scale farmers are women. So empowerment of women is directly associated effective delivering of nutrition.
- Most of the small scale farmers sell less and grow more for household consumption and the nutrition through household consumption counts.
- When the small scale farmers have access to the farmers market, the people can get the food in reasonable price.
- Due to lack of knowledge on harvesting and storage, there may be the loss of nutrition.
- Small scale farmers who produce the cash crops are most likely to generate more income leading to the economic growth.
- Agriculture activities has the impact on human health.
- Socioeconomic status of the farmers may affect the household members.
Strategies to promote small scale farms
- Women Empowerment
- Giving proper training to the farmers
- Increase their access to the markets
- Provide them extra subsidy
- Giving them quality seed and varieties
- Proper education on nutrition
- Arrangement of proper insecticides and pesticides and irrigation facilities
- Proper land policy
- Showing gratitude for their contribution
Role of Small Scale Farms in maintaining food security during Covid-19 crisis
Small scale farms has always been contributing to the food security though they are marginalized and so far their contribution is commendable. In present scenario, the outbreak of Covid-19 has raised questions on the food security and family farms has an important role to play. Most of the nations on the globe are in lockdown and therefore there is import-export restrictions. In such condition, the import and export of the commodities is not possible and hence the Government cannot fulfill the needs of the citizens. In my opinion, even if there were no any restrictions, people would fear to consume the imported goods due to corona virus. And we cannot deny the fact that the consumers believe the local producers. So the small scale farms has a scope here. Moreover, the small scale farms use no or few modern equipments and technology, which is also a plus point in such restrictions. As much labours are not required as compared to large scale, which is also a positive aspect in such labour crisis situation. While the Government is struggling to provide health aids, these farms could aid the Government ensuring food security in their region and when every farms do so, nobody would go hungry. Furthermore, the produce of the small scale farms could be helpful to sustain the stock Government have for more few months.
For this to happen, Government should provide the required conditions to these farms. Government should make the quality seeds available and other facilities for farming like irrigation,fertilizers etc. Agriculture experts should recommend the farmers on the cultivation and harvesting time and considerations in present scenario. And above all, they should give permission to do farming activities but with some protocols, farming should not be halted at all and the farmers would work directly with the Government and ensure food security.
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