Family Farms Research Articles

The Influence Of Socio-Economic Characteristics Of Farmers On The Food Availability Of Farming Households In Warudoyong Sub-District, Sukabumi

Food security is a global, multidimensional issue with social, economic, political and environmental interests. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of socioeconomic characteristics of farmers on the availability of farm household food in Warudoyong Sub-district, Sukabumi City. This study used descriptive method with quantitative approach. The data collection techniques used in this research are observation, questionnaires, literature, and documentation. The results showed that the socio-economic characteristics of farmers, which include age, education, area of cultivated land, number of dependents, and farmers' income, together have a significant effect on the food availability of farming families with a contribution of 97.8%, while 2.2% is influenced by other variables outside the study. Farmers' age through education has a significant effect on food availability, but farmers' education through income does not have a significant indirect effect. Similarly, the size of cultivated land through income also has no significant effect on family food availability. The direct effect of these factors is greater than the indirect effect, so the income variable is not a significant mediator in the relationship between education and land area on food availability. The implication of this study is that the increasing age of farmers will further reduce the food availability of farming families.

Ervas medicinais: Promovendo sustentabilidade e renda na agricultura familiar

The research aimed to analyze the costs and feasibility of the cultivation of medicinal herbs Melissa (Melissa officinalis) from Passion Fruit (Passiflora edulis) in a rural property in the municipality of Prudentópolis, Paraná. It is based on the premise that crop diversification is essential for the economic self-sufficiency of small properties characterized as family farming. In addition to the economic aspects, the choice of plants for analysis is intrinsically linked to the symbolic and cultural value that medicinal herbs carry, being widely recognized for their therapeutic and healing properties. The cultivation of medicinal plants, therefore, not only contributes to physical health, but also acts as a practice that values the connection with nature and ancestral knowledge, promoting a balance between the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of farmers and the local community. Methodologically, the research is applied, descriptive, documentary, bibliographic and based on case studies. The locus of the research was defined by convenience and accessibility. After data collection and analysis, it was found that both crops are profitable, with a financial return of approximately 30.5% per year. In addition to their economic viability, these plants offer a holistic approach to well-being, contributing to the mental and emotional balance of farmers, who, through cultivation, also rescue traditional practices and strengthen the bond with the land and local culture. The cultivation of medicinal herbs, such as Melissa and Passion Fruit, thus stands out not only as an excellent option for generating income and work, but also as a path to sustainability and the rescue of harmony between human beings and nature, presenting plant alternatives with simple management, good acceptance in the market, ease of sale and attractive prices

Family farming in Mozambique: are the programs and strategies contributing to the achievement of food self-sufficiency?

Family farming in Mozambique: are the programs and strategies contributing to the achievement of food self-sufficiency?

Factors Affecting Livelihood Diversification of Women of Farm Families Working in Textile Industries in Faisalabad District, Pakistan

Factors Affecting Livelihood Diversification of Women of Farm Families Working in Textile Industries in Faisalabad District, Pakistan

The multifunctionality of rural space: Agriculture and pedagogical rural tourism in the southernmost region of Brazil

The article addresses pedagogical rural tourism developed by farmer families in the southernmost region of Brazil. Three agricultural production units were evaluated, which host students and teachers for classes on agroforestry, agroecology, and natural resource conservation. It is noted that farmers play an important role as educators, highlighting the multifunctionality of rural space and agriculture.

Influence of livelihood assets on biodiversity and household food security in tropical homegardens along urbanisation gradients

Abstract By 2050, 70% of the global population will reside in urban areas, raising concerns about food security and biodiversity loss. Tropical homegardens, a form of agroforestry, may have the potential to align concurrent demands for biodiversity conservation and food security in urban environments. Nevertheless, this depends on land-use decision-making strategies that are enabled by household livelihood assets. We examined which livelihood assets are associated with homegarden agrobiodiversity and food availability and accessibility in Kerala, India, the nature of these associations, and whether they vary along urbanisation gradients using data from 304 homegardens. We observed higher plant species richness closer to the urban centre and in smaller homegardens. Meanwhile, yields and share of household food consumption from homegardens tend to be higher farther away from urban centres. Assets like fertilizer use, irrigation and kinship affiliation are positively associated with both homegarden agrobiodiversity and food outcomes. Conversely, homegarden size is negatively associated with biodiversity outcomes across urbanisation gradients and positively associated with yield outcomes furthest away from urban centre. Some assets like family labour and farming association membership were only positively associated with food outcomes, while others like external labour availability were positively associated only with plant diversity in the urban centre. Overall, synergies between homegarden agrobiodiversity and household food security requires inputs to natural processes, such as irrigation and soil fertility, and social processes like knowledge sharing and social cohesion, especially in urban peripheries. We emphasize the relevance of homegardens and enhancing livelihood assets for food-secure households in biodiverse urban environments.

Power positions in the farm family, marrying in, and negative peer pressure: the social relations that impact agricultural practice

AbstractIn this article, we wish to consider relationships internal and external to the farm household, and how these enable and/or mitigate the adoption of better farm practices. We find that internally, members of the farm household (successors or spouses ‘marrying in’), can influence the future direction of agricultural practice in a positive way, that is more profitable and sustainable. It is not a straightforward process though. Interpersonal household relations play a role; status and standing within the family can impact on how decisions about change are made. This relates to both people marrying in and the position of the successor in an inter-generational household. We found that the power of the farming peer group to influence change is underestimated. Our data shows that farming is an occupation subject to strong cultural norms regarding acceptable farming practice. Sometimes farm family decisions to change agricultural practice falter under the weight of sanctions and derision encountered when trying to make adjustments. This paper draws from two data sets in Germany and England. We conclude that understanding internal farm household interactions, and their external relations with farming peer groups is critical to supporting the future of agriculture.

Бюджет российского крестьянина-колхозника в 1953–1958 годах (по материалам рассекреченных архивных документов)

The article analyzes statistics, closed for many decades for an ordinary user, on the budgets of families of peasant collective farmers in 1958. Comparing with the indicators of the period of the beginning of agrarian reforms, we can conclude that the position of the collective farm peasantry has improved somewhat due to the reduction of taxes and fees. At the same time,cash and natural income were small, the structure of expenses did not undergo significant changes. The socio-economic situation of collective farmers in the second half of the 1950s remained difficult.

Determinants of access to rural financing in the democratic republic of Congo: The case of Kongo central

This article aims to identify the determinants influencing access to rural finance, focusing on a sample of 500 family farms in Kongo Central. This study revealed that membership in a financial solidarity group and awareness of the existence of a local development committee significantly influences access to credit using Probit and Logit regression methods. This study highlights the importance of supply and demand factors in accessing rural finance. Key demand-related determinants include gender, marital status, sector of activity, household size and high levels of education. This research suggests strengthening policies aimed at increasing financial education and women's empowerment to improve access to financing. These measures could enable more individuals especially women to effectively access and use financial services. By addressing these determinants can help policymakers better design interventions to support rural development in this province. The results underscore the need for a holistic approach considering both supply and demand factors to improve financial inclusion for rural populations.

Who (actually) gets the farm? Intergenerational farm succession in the United States

AbstractFarm succession is a central issue in agricultural policy. Yet although many studies explore succession planning, little is known about how farms are actually transferred. We provide the first population‐level evidence on intergenerational farm succession by linking US census records for millions of farmers' children in 1900 and 1910 to identify which children own and operate the family farm up to 40 years later. We first show that daughters are rarely successors. Using a within‐family identification strategy, we find that first‐born sons are slightly more likely than their younger brothers to be successors while their parents are working aged. However, birth order is not predictive of who receives the farm when parents are older or deceased. For later farm transfers, sons who were previously tenant farmers are much more likely than their brothers to be successors, possibly because they are better prepared. Fewer than one‐fifth of farmers transfer their farm to any son. Our study relies on rich historical data because current policy prevents the necessary data linkages for studying intergenerational farm succession. Providing a secure system for researchers to link modern agricultural data to population microdata, similar to what has been achieved with other data sources, would yield crucial insights into long‐term agricultural policy issues in the US.

Semi-natural agroecosystems. challenge of the functional redesign of biodiversity during the agroecological transition towards sustainable food

Various documents show that the design and management of agroecosystems, according to the principles of agroecology and the functions of biodiversity, facilitates the transition to sustainable food. Experiences in the participation of projects advised and facilitated in family farming systems allowed us to consider that humans, who for many years have been consumers of a few agricultural products, integrate agricultural fruits that have developed in semi-natural agroecosystems into their diet. This article discusses that sustainable food should integrate semi-natural foods, as a complement to the diet, due to their importance in digestion, nutrition and immunity to certain diseases.

The impacts of family farming cooperatives on the sustainability of their cooperatives in the municipalities of Umuarama and Dois Vizinhos, PR

The process of globalization, which acts through its webs, permeates world trends, demanding new forms and alternatives of the organization from societies. The reality of the market and its economic and educational links also present new perspectives, potentialities and challenges, which require the effective participation of people in the search for viable economic and environmentally correct alternatives. In this context, family farming cooperatives present forms of mutual help in solving common concerns, creating opportunities from influencing their activities with cooperative members. Thus, this article aims to analyze the impacts of the actions of family farming cooperatives on the sustainability of rural producers in the municipalities of Umuarama and Dois Vizinhos, in Paraná state. To meet the aims, exploratory-descriptive research was used in the Web of Science database. The results move between four main focuses in the analyzed articles: farmers' perception, cooperative practices, quality of life, and management and satisfaction, which directly impact the sustainability of its members. According to the perception of the cooperative members of the two municipalities, cooperative practices are indifferent to their sustainability. Regarding the quality of life and management, cooperatives contribute to social involvement, interaction, integration, and solidarity among members, improve the quality of life and well-being of farmers, and involve members in decision-making in meetings and assemblies, generating sustainability over the quality of life and management. As for the indicator of the satisfaction of its members, the actions of cooperatives have a direct impact on sustainability since these actions are generating profitability and partnership with their members.

Divergent approaches to the ‘family farm’: celebrate, reform, or abolish?

Divergent approaches to the ‘family farm’: celebrate, reform, or abolish?

Perfil de agentes de inovação social: Proposta metodológica para o segmento da agricultura familiar

This research outlined the professional performance profile of the 'social innovation agent' at Embrapa. This definition strengthens the social innovation actions in the Company and in the partner institutions, establishing the main roles to be played to promote socioeconomic development in the context of family farming. The research adopted the qualitative approach of the bibliographic review type. It was concluded that the exercise of the function of social innovation agent is comprehensive and involves a range of attributions that complement and interrelate each other. Three categories of roles were identified, considered essential to compose the professional profile of this function, namely: articulation, facilitation and management. The exercise of these roles does not require the development/acquisition of specialized technical and procedural knowledge (skills) that are the basis for the development of roles/competencies, and Embrapa should be the protagonist in the training of these agents to strengthen the Innovation ecosystem in family farming.

Family Farmers as Agents in the Struggle for Survival: A Case Study from Turkey☆

AbstractThis paper discusses the survival strategies of small family farms in a western Anatolian village in the context of ongoing debates in the current literature concerning the future of small or peasant family farms under the conditions of the neoliberal era. The main argument of the paper is that even though the neoliberal agrarian policies in Turkey put into effect since the early 1980s have divested farmers of much of the protective policies in force in earlier periods—thereby putting them under much severe market pressures—other pressure mechanisms in this case under investigation have a more central impact on their survival. These pressures are the patterns of social and cultural change that occur due to modernization, alongside regulations concerning access to land which the farmers seem to be able to counter by organizing and mobilizing their internal, material, and social resources, within cultural norms. The arguments presented are based on the analysis of empirical data collected through field work carried out in a village of farmers specializing and engaged in the production of dried figs. The study emphasizes the multi‐causal, multi‐layered, contingent, and hybrid nature of the question of survival for these villagers and argues that it should be evaluated as a process, rather than an outcome, with the villagers themselves as agents in this process.

Economic Analysis of the Export Trends of Livestock and Livestock Products in India

Livestock provides livelihood to two-third of rural masses and employs about 8.8 per cent population of India. While dairying ensures livelihood to 70 million farm families. The study utilized export data from government sources and conducted a statistical analysis to assess trends and stability. Data revealed that the overall export value increased significantly from ₹22,092.62 crore in 2011-12 to ₹48,947.55 crore in 2021-22, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.90%. Buffalo meat emerged as the leading export product, while dairy products exhibited a notable growth rate while dairy products and other categories showed varied growth. The instability index for the total exports was 19.02%, indicating moderate stability. State-wise analysis indicated Uttar Pradesh as the leading exporter, followed by Maharashtra and Haryana, with these three states together accounting for 85% of the total exports in 2021-22. The average growth rate of exports across states was 3.57%, demonstrating a stable growth pattern. Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the sector showed resilience with a 13.98% growth in exports for 2021-22, aided by government initiatives. The analysis of dairy product exports highlighted a significant increase from ₹2,382.91 crore in 2020-21 to ₹4,742.70 crore in 2021-22, marking a 99% growth. The primary export destinations were the USA, Bangladesh, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Malaysia. A transitional probability matrix revealed shifts in market shares, with notable increases in the USA and Bangladesh. Trade performance from 2011-22 showed that India's export share in dairy products improved from 0.03% to 0.135%, while import share decreased significantly. The instability index for exports was 63.53%, reflecting high volatility. Investing in advanced breeding technologies to increase productivity, and enhancing market access through trade agreements and promotional activities. Additionally, policies to manage volatility, such as price stabilization measures and export incentives, could further support industry growth.

Assessment of Risk Factors Associated with and Practices of Cattle Farmers in Kirehe District Rwanda with Respect to Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Pathogens.

Rural Rwandan communities face health challenges for humans and animals, and the topography and climate of the Kirehe District of Rwanda put farmers at high risk for mosquito-borne diseases. Individuals from 92 Rwandan farms were surveyed about farm practices, as well as animal and human health histories between December 2017 and February 2018. Human, animal, and environmental factors were investigated to determine whether there is a pattern of risk for abortion incidence and/or history of malarial disease on the farm. Iterative, complementary logistic regression models were used to determine whether there was an association between variables and abortion history in animals. These factors were then used to investigate association with a reported history of malaria. Of the 92 farms in our study, 82 were family farms and 10 were commercial farms. On average, 88% of the farms had cattle, and 30% of farms had experienced a cattle abortion in the past 2 years. There was no observed statistical significance in the risk factors for history of abortion in cattle and the measured variables. Using One Health as a guiding framework, we sought to determine whether human, animal, and environmental factors were statistically associated with observed disease outcomes. From our study of the practices of the farmers with respect to biosafety and self-protection against disease, we have identified potential sources of risk that could be targeted to enhance education and protection on these farms.

Engagement and Communication Challenges for a Complex, Multi-nation Research Project: AD|ARC (Administrative Data | Agricultural Research Collection)

The Administrative Data | Agricultural Research Collection (AD|ARC) is a complex research project involving four nations, a mixture of business-level, household-level and person-level data, and diverse partners, stakeholders and audiences. The project is creating independent but comparable Research Ready Datasets, using linked data for farm businesses, farmers and farm families in the four UK nations. The engagement and communications workstream is crucial to build trust, inform the programme of work, support and enhance scientific objectives, and deliver high-quality, relevant findings that meet stakeholder and funder expectations. The project deployed a bespoke engagement and communications framework to meet these objectives. This presentation shares key elements of AD|ARC project's engagement and communications framework and strategy: Multi-region Approach: Balancing the need for a harmonised, federated resource with respecting regional differences in data, trusted research environments, and stakeholder perspectives. Transparency and Trust: Engaging diverse stakeholders, including farmers, researchers, and policymakers, to build trust, support and legitimacy. Collaborative Decision-Making: Interacting with diverse partners, (data owners, researchers, research subject representatives) to refine research questions. Outreach and Dissemination: A multi-method, iterative approach to raise awareness, share and promote the project. Results are demonstrated by success in being selected as an ADR UK Flagship Dataset; integrating diverse perspectives into the creation of comparable Research Ready Datasets; consensus on a research programme; useful learning which is incorporated into strategy; and actionable evidence to inform policymaking. The presentation will reflect on lessons learned, drawing out implications for research and public engagement that could apply to any complex research project.

Engaging Farmers in Educational Programs to Improve Health and Emotional Outcomes: The Farm Family Health and Wellness Program

Engaging Farmers in Educational Programs to Improve Health and Emotional Outcomes: The Farm Family Health and Wellness Program

Complex cocoa agroforestry systems shaped within specific socioeconomic and historical contexts in Africa: Lessons from Cameroonian farmers

CONTEXTIn the humid tropics, the socioecological advantages of family-based, multistory agroforestry systems are well recognized. Yet public policies tend to focus on conservation and land-sparing strategies alongside the promotion of modern intensive agriculture, neglecting these biodiverse agroecosystems, which are in decline. This is a particularly central issue in cocoa cultivation. In Africa's two largest cocoa-producing countries (Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana), cocoa plantations with few associated trees contribute to deforestation and biodiversity loss. In contrast, in regions like Cameroon, biodiversity-rich cocoa agroforests prevail. Considering global changes and rising cocoa demand, it is crucial to preserve and develop these agroforestry systems that reconcile cocoa production with ecosystem services. OBJECTIVEThis study, conducted in Cameroon between 2013 and 2017, aimed to pinpoint the socioeconomic factors influencing the characteristics, maintenance, and degradation of cocoa agroforests, with the ultimate goal of identifying intervention strategies to promote their preservation and development. METHODSThe study collected data from (i) on-field measurements in 95 cocoa agroforestry plots, (ii) interviews with the 95 farmers managing the plots, and (iii) historical interviews with 50 key informants. We focused on five sites across a gradient of population density, encompassing various socioecological environments and types of cocoa agroforests. Through thematic and statistical analyses, we evaluated differences between the five sites. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSOur results indicated contrasting management practices, dendrometric structure, species composition, and cocoa yields between sites. These contrasts largely reflected socioeconomic factors and site-specific dynamics. Cocoa agroforests were less rich in biodiversity in sites where farmers with capital using hired labor had acquired land than in sites where family farmers predominated. A trade-off was found between the richness of companion trees and cocoa yields. Plots managed by smallholder family farmers near urban areas tended to better reconcile cocoa production and biodiversity conservation. These farmers had gradually transformed their traditional agroforests to adapt to increasing demographic pressure by integrating diverse fruit tree species, using pesticides sparingly, and introducing selected cocoa varieties mixed with older varieties. SIGNIFICANCEThe small-scale family-managed cocoa agroforests, which incorporate fruit species as described in this study, could serve as a model for a more sustainable cocoa production strategy. However, developing such a strategy would require greater investment and support from policymakers. This includes supporting the marketing of products from companion trees, stabilizing cocoa prices at a high level, and implementing land policies that protect small and medium-sized family farmers.