Family Farming – Examples for Rural Communities Development

Abstract

At present, family farming is a subject of great importance for sustainable development of rural communities and promotion of healthy lifestyle. According to FAO Policies, family farming is a means of organizing agricultural, forestry, fisheries, pastoral and aquaculture production which is managed and operated by a family and predominantly reliant on family labour, including both women's and men's. Family farming is the predominant form of agriculture in the food production sector for both in developing and developed countries. In this sense, Agropuzzle II is a partnership project under LLP Leonardo da Vinci Program targeting to develop, update and completing specific competence profile and training in sustainable agriculture and agribusiness, with a view for promoting knowledge transfer to all stakeholders in agricultural production and rural community development. The team of Bucharest Faculty of Agriculture is beneficiaries of education and training courses in the partner countries: Czech Republic, Portugal, Poland, Slovakia and Romania, leading to a European perspective on the importance of sustainable agriculture and agribusiness among all entities interested and involved in this orientation. During these mobilities it could be highlight the contribution of smallholder and family farmers to food security, rural development, developing new employment and management of natural resources and also, the opportunity to encourage research that improves food security and supports sustainable rural development, safeguards cultural heritage, protects the environment and maintains biodiversity.