Family farming in times of Covid-19

Suzi Barletto CAVALLI,Sergio SCHNEIDER,Panmela SOARES,Suellen Secchi MARTINELLI

doi:10.1590/1678-9865202033e200180

Suzi Barletto CAVALLI, Sergio SCHNEIDER + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9865202033e200180

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Abstract

Abstract Family farming plays a vital role in the global food supply. The mobility restriction measures adopted internationally to contain Covid-19 are necessary to control the pandemic progress. However, they can impair food production and distribution. This paper aims to discuss the effects of the Covid-19 containment measures on the production and distribution of family farming food, and strategies to strengthen this sector. Sanitary and social distancing requirements, the interruption of supply to institutional markets, the closure of local farmers’ markets, or people’s declining food demand are hampering family farming food production’s flow and shrinking family farmers’ income. This situation can jeopardize the food sovereignty and nutritional security of the population in the medium and long term. Access to Personal Protective Equipment, the reorganization of local farmers’ markets, investment in new technologies for direct commercialization, guarantee of minimum income, and the strengthening/expansion of institutional food purchases are some of the strategies that can contribute to overcome the new challenges imposed on family farming as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. We conclude the article by arguing that the support to and enhancement of the family farming sector are strategic to ensure food supply and to strengthen food and nutrition sovereignty and security.

Highlights

Farmers are responsible for the majority of the productive units that exist in the rural areas of the planet and contribute with an important part of food production [1]
The majority of people working in agriculture in Brazil are family farmers, since small holder farms generate 10.1 million jobs, which represents 67% of the total economically active population employed in agricultural establishments [9]
The strategies presented in the project include the maintenance of public purchases of food produced by family farmers, assistance through the Environmental Conservation Support Program, supply guarantee of essential services such as water, electricity and gas for the beneficiaries of the Bolsa Família welfare program, suspension of debt collection by financial institutions in addition to more specific physical goals and programmatic actions

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Farmers are responsible for the majority of the productive units that exist in the rural areas of the planet and contribute with an important part of food production [1]. Studies have shown the benefits of buying food from family farmers for both consumers and producers [13,34,35,36] and enhance the importance of strengthening this productive sector Several of these strategies may be threatened by the discontinuity of public policies and the negative consequences of Covid-19 control measures (such as the closure of institutional markets and street markets). In order to guarantee food production for the entire population and not to increase the situation of economic vulnerability of the farmers’ families, it is necessary to adopt measures with a clear and emergency objective in mind to stimulate the production and the income assurance for family farmers Initiatives such as food baskets delivered at home and diffusion strategies through social networks have been used by farmers’ organizations as an alternative for the production outflow [37].

Decreased income

Findings

CONCLUSION