Pro-family farming policies are key in anti-hunger fight | Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD)

Financial and infrastructure support for small-scale family farmers is crucial to winning the fight against hunger around the world, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on March 5th 2014, urging Governments to create polices conducive for equitable and sustainable rural development.

As 2014 is being celebrated as the International Year of Family Farming, Mr. Ban warned that while small-scale farmers, fisherfolk, forest-dependent people, pastoralists and indigenous communities are key to achieving food security worldwide, they are also the most vulnerable to climate change events and extreme weather conditions such as droughts and floods.

In his message to the Global Forum and Expo on Family Farming, that took place in Budapest by José Graziano da Silva, Director-General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the UN chief stressed the importance of public and private lenders providing them with financial support such as credit and insurance.

“Governments can empower family farmers, especially women and youth, by creating policies conducive to equitable and sustainable rural development,” the Secretary-General said in his message. “This includes better infrastructure to reduce the amount of food lost after harvest when small-scale producers are unable to store, process and transport their goods.”

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