CARIBBEAN AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION:
FAMILY FARMING
Table of Contents
1. International Year of Family Farming – An Opportunity
2. Family Farming in the Caribbean – Conceptual Challenges
3. Small/Family Farming in the Caribbean – Characteristics
4. Alternative Vision and Family Farming – Policy and Program Priorities
5. FAO’s support for Family Farming in the Caribbean
International Year of Family Farming – An Opportunity
BASIS: The United Nations has declared 2014
the International Year of Family Farming (IYFF)
in recognition of:
 Important role that family farming plays in
eradicating hunger and conserving natural
resources globally.
In LAC family farming accounts for more than
80% of agricultural production and generates
more than 50% of agricultural employment.
PURPOSE: An opportunity to consider our approaches to food and
nutrition security and agricultural development given current global,
regional and national food system challenges. How we address
family farming is important dimension of our response.
Fact on Small Farms and Family Farming in the Caribbean
Small farms and family farms have contributed greatly to
food and nutrition security in the Caribbean –
Rural garden farming on small plots throughout CARICOM
region selling vegetables, roots, fruits into local and central
markets. Growing grain crops, fruit crops, livestock, harvesting
forestry and fisheries resources for export.
Family Farming – Conceptual Challenges
Family does not easily fit a template, therefore family
farm is not readily defined in the different social and
economic contexts of the Caribbean.
How might we and do we need to definitively
differentiate small farms and family farms? What is the
definition of family farming in a Caribbean context?
When you say family farm what does it mean to you?
Agricultural census data is less linked to family structure and
income and more to farm size and crops.
Family Farming – Conceptual Challenges
How many family farms are there in the Caribbean
if we consider conventional criteria:
The definition of Family Farming – wide
definition of farming where key
characteristics include:
 Limited access to land and capital
resources;
 Predominantly family labour is used
with the head of the household
participating directly in the
production process;
 Farming is the main source of
household income for the family
nucleus.
Family Farming – Conceptual Challenges
Aspects of Caribbean rural context that raises some further questions
Can a farm where the Head of the Farm encourages the
children to think of not going into farming be classified as
a family farm or a sustainable family farm ?
Can a farm where the owner is absentee and has another
profession be considered a family farm?
Can a farm where farming is not really a chosen
job/profession but the only or least preferred option for
earning a living be considered a family farm?
Should a landless or very part time farmer be considered
a family farm?
Affects targeting, developing programs, allocating resources
What the data says about Small/Family Farming in the Caribbean (1)
•50% of small farm households have >5 persons
•Men represent 70% of the farm owners.
• Average age of male/female small farmers is 48/55
• 56% of farms are owned by the farmer.
• Youth show little interest in farming.
• 90% of the farms are less than five acres
• 55% of the farm area occupied by small farmers
• 59% of farms are classified as diversified
• Less than 25% of the household income generally
comes from the farm
• Less than 10% of households get majority of income
from the farm. Principal source of income is off farm employment, remittances, pensions, are other
sources of incomes.
Family Farming and Development Policy
Development policy has negatively or at best not
addressed family farm growth and development!
We have not paid attention to or promoted why “family”
is important to farming? Too Technological and
economic an approach – Green Revolution programs and
Washington consensus policies have not served family
farms well.
We have given the “family” good reasons to abandon
farming – policy has not enabled an acceptable
livelihood: labour, service and industrial workers have a
minimum wage; attention to farm family incomes
abandoned.
Large
scale
commercial
farms
have
been
encouraged/promoted/given concessions and targeted
at the expense of family farms.
Alternative Vision and Approach needed
Agricultural Revitalization and Food and Nutrition Security
The Triple Bottom Line
Family Farms are central to this vision and approach
Family farming is important to this vision
• Family farms are better stewards of the earth, producers of safe food.
• Small/medium sized family farms use resources more efficiently.
• Small/medium sized family farms distribute income more equitably.
• Corporate globalized farming methods threaten sustainability.
An alternative Vision and Type of Family Farming in the Caribbean?
Too small is not beautiful. Income and Inclusion.
Only a fraction (~ 30%) of small holder farmers can
be expected to succeed as entrepreneurs in
competitive food and agriculture chains.
Support for family farming need not and should not
be done in opposition to some larger-scale,
specialized farming.
New policies and programs needed -- linked to
family ownership, succession planning, commitment
and promoting a new concept of family agriculture.
Promote a focus on multiple and differentiated
markets and demand points – replacement of
imports, organic, tourism, high value, diaspora.
A Targeted Policy for Family Farming
• Incomes generated from family small farming need to be higher – investment and
productivity facilitation policies.
• Risks and uncertainties in the sector make family farmers unattractive to lending
institutions – pricing and crop insurance policies.
• Land division within families – succession planning legislation/regulatory systems.
• Family farmers need to keep records and know the financial state of their enterprise
– entrepreneurship, partnership and business development policy.
• Changing family structures needs increased recognition – integrated social and
economic planning of health, education agriculture policy.
Advocacy for Family Farming
Caribbean Family Farming Working Group:
Working Group has been formed to serve as a catalyst to develop and
implement an agenda to promote increased development of family
farms in the Caribbean region. Membership includes FAO, CAFAN, IICA,
CARDI, UWI, CTA, IFAD .
A Regional Dialogue on Family Farming has identified five key
thematic areas:
• Public policy to support family farming technology development,
extension, and investment.
• Information and communication systems to facilitate data
collection and analysis and the preparation of publications on
family farming.
• Succession planning to promote an increase of youth and women
in family farming.
• Business and economic planning and analysis for enterprise
development.
• Sustainable development of family farms emphasizing building
resilience and reducing risk.
Alternative vision of family farming requires taking control of our
Livelihoods, our Food Systems and saving our Planet
Our food choices have sacrificed our health - processed foods,
obesity and non-communicable diseases.
25c to grower
$3 to $5 to
processor
Remainder to
Fast Food Chain
Ford’s
Fried
Chicken
Need consumption and nutrition policy approaches to encourage
families in the Caribbean to eat and drink local products – address
the reality of externally based consumption in our countries.
Main messages
• Establish a clear concept of family farming that enables policy to
be targeted to the heterogeneous collection of producers
involved and differing sociocultural and historical contexts.
• Embrace a new concept of Agriculture and Family Farming that
emphasizes the triple bottom line – People, Profits and Planet.
• Implement policies and reform our institutions to better serve
as architects, incentives, facilitators of a new vision of
agriculture and family farming.
FAO remains committed to Family Farmers in the Caribbean
Jamaica, Small Ruminant Production:
FAO implemented a recent, two year project with the overall objective of
reducing poverty and enhancing food security for vulnerable groups. Under the
project, FAO and the Government of Jamaica focused on creating a market-driven
strategy for increased small ruminant production while targeting family farms.
FAO Assistance: The Jamaica Goat Farmers Association was the main institutional
stakeholder and beneficiary of this component of the project. The project sought
to enhance small ruminant production among clusters of farmers in selected
communities through the demonstration and adoption of best practices and
innovation in husbandry, breeding, housing, and nutrition of goats. The cluster
concept brought communities together and provided a forum where farmers can
learn new techniques and share information with each other.
St Vincent, Georgetown Craft Makers Association :
Local community development organization that had the idea to revive the
traditional bamboo craft to generate income opportunities for local youth. With
the assistance of FAO, the community group formalized its status as a registered
non-profit organization.
FAO Assistance: Two local trainers were hired. The staff of the forestry
department assisted in allocating the bamboo resources and supported the
transport of the cut bamboo. By the end of the project 15 persons, mainly
young women were trained in harvesting and processing bamboo and weaving
of different types of bamboo baskets and items. They also were advised on how
to set prices and market their wares, with a view to tapping into both the local
and the growing tourism market.
Let’s work together!