As the global population continues to grow and become more urbanized, smallholder farmers will play a critical role in feeding the world. Despite their importance to global food security, however, these farmers face daunting challenges in the form of climate change, price volatility, limited access to credit and insurance, and inadequate access to nutritious food. And addressing these challenges effectively is complicated even further by the fact that small farmers have widely varying needs, advantages, and abilities. A new IFPRI Food Policy Report looks at how policymakers can support smallholders through both increased investment in their agricultural potential and increased support for small farmers wanting to make the move into the non-agricultural work force.
From Subsistence to Profit: Transforming Smallholder Farms begins with a simple statement: smallholder farmers are not all the same. While some small farmers have the potential to successfully transform their farms from subsistence agriculture into profitable commercial ventures, others would benefit more from exiting the agricultural sector and taking advantage of non-farm labor opportunities. Supporting both groups will mean establishing a policy environment that takes into account farmers' specific contexts and needs, as well as a country's overall level of economic development and economic goals.
In addition, the authors recommend that policymakers focus on:
- supporting productive, inclusive social safety nets,
- improving risk mitigation and adaptation strategies,
- strengthening linkages among agriculture, nutrition, and health,
- promoting smallholders' access to and involvement in value chains, and
- increasing financing and investment opportunities for smallholders.