The Role of Farmers & Food Production Systems
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HELP SUPPORTING THE ROLE OF FARMERS
Agriculture occupies one third of the land surface of the Earth, and is the central activity for much of the world’s population. Rural activities take place in close contact with nature, adding value to it by producing renewable resources, while at the same time becoming vulnerable to overuse and ultimately exhausted. The decentralization of decision-making towards local and community organizations is the key in changing people’s behavior and exploring sustainable farming strategies. This program area deals with activities which can contribute to this end.
OVERVIEW
- The role of farmers
- Farming sustainability
- Self-sufficiency and food production systems
THE ROLE OF FARMERS
Farmers play a vital role in providing the basics for all of our food needs. Farmers can play a very important role in changing the agricultural landscape for the better.
Ideas for those interested in implementation
- Farmers can do great good by changing their methods of production to sustainable ones.
- Farmers can play a key role by opening their farms to tours and teaching classes as interest in growing food soars again
FARMING SUSTAINABILITY
Farming can become more sustainable, helping people, communities and themselves.
Ideas for those interested in implementation
- On a local level, people can work together and cooperate with farmers’ organizations in developing location-specific environment-friendly farming techniques
- On a local level, people can work together and cooperate with farmers to create easier and cheaper methods of getting farm goods to people’s hands, cutting down on transport and loss of money to third parties
SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND FOOD PRODUCTION SYSTEMS
Ideas for those interested in implementation
- On a local level, people can work together and cooperate with farmers’ organizations in developing location-specific environment-friendly farming techniques
- On a local level, people can work together and cooperate with farmers to create easier and cheaper methods of getting farm goods to people’s hands, cutting down on transport and loss of money to third parties
- People can take a more active role in farming and buying farm goods, thus changing the market landscape, prices, and supply and demand
- Encourage more people to become involved in the food making process, i.e. become small-scale farmers to produce for their family and friends, and local community. As each community/township has multiple local locations to get produce and farm goods, the market landscape changes and power and decision making is decentralized
- Support networks for the exchange of experiences with regard to farming that help to conserve land, water and forest resources, stop the use of chemicals and reduce or reutilize farm wastes
- Develop environmentally sound farming technologies that enhance crop yields, maintain land quality, recycle nutrients, conserve water and energy and control pests and weeds
* In this chapter, all references to “farmers” include all rural people who derive their livelihood from activities such as farming, fishing and forest harvesting. The term “farming” also includes fishing and forest harvesting.
