Luiz Carlos Beduschi
The last few years in Latin America and the Caribbean have been complex. The covid-19 pandemic has not only generated an unprecedented health crisis, but has also had a direct impact on job losses, increased poverty and hunger. Added to this complex scenario are the difficulties generated by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, mainly due to the scarcity of agricultural inputs and the high cost of energy.
Family farmers were instrumental in keeping agri-food systems running during the pandemic. In the post-pandemic recovery scenario, family farming is achieving and will play a very important role in the necessary transformation of rural areas, in particular by promoting more innovative, efficient, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems.
At the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), we are convinced that family farming must strengthen its presence on the agenda of political decisions, in the implementation of public policies, with a budget and concrete actions. , which transcend the declarative. Therefore, it is important to strengthen the instances of political dialogue at sub-regional and regional level, favoring the meeting between the actors of the public, private and civil society sectors.
This is why we promote a series of initiatives and events to strengthen and enhance family farming.
Firstly, as an organization we participate in the United Nations Decade of Family Farming (DNUAF), the aim of which is to create an environment conducive to the exchange of experiences, knowledge, mechanisms, tools and technical support to enhance and promote more sustainable development sustainability. of family farmers.
In addition, through the United Nations Decade of Family Farming Global Action Plan, FAO provides detailed guidance to national and local governments, parliaments, academic institutions, the private sector, and farmers ‘and producers’ organizations. to implement national plans, laws and policies associated with this problem.
At the regional level, five national plans have already been approved (Brazil, Peru, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic and Panama) and a sub-regional plan with the Central American Integration System (SICA). Furthermore, with the help of FAO, laws, programs, meetings for the exchange of experiences and public policies have been implemented, with the participation of governments, parliaments and civil society.
As the preparatory body for the United Nations Global Forum of the Decade of Family Farming to be held from 19-22 September, the FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean held an early consultation to generate input for this. global debate. The information that emerged from this consultation is essential to determine the broad guidelines that will be promoted in the region, emphasizing the need to generate greater government participation in the Decade of Family Farming.
FAO will also support the second Conference of the Expoed Mercosur Specialized Meeting on Family Farming (Reaf) on 5 and 6 December, promoted by the Institute for Agricultural Development (Indap) of the Chilean Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries (MGAP) of Uruguay.
In addition, and in close coordination with Reaf and the Secretariat of the decade, the Latin American and Caribbean event of the decade of family farming will be held in Chile on 6 and 7 December, which aims to promote and strengthen ongoing actions in Latin America and in the Caribbean as part of the implementation of the Decade of Family Farming.
-Senior Policy Officer in Territorial Development for FAO
