Across the world, 70-80 per cent of farms are family farms. Family farms are run by individuals or families who rely primarily on family labour.
According to the International Land Coalition, family farming contributes 80 per cent of food production and employs between 60 per cent and 70 per cent of the population in Africa. This farming model is crucial in Africa’s agricultural sector, providing food security, livelihoods, and cultural heritage.
However, family farmers face numerous challenges that hinder their productivity and sustainability. The apparent lack of enabling policies, ageing labour force, limited access to modern farming technologies, market volatility, and low incentives to family farmers are some major constraints that reduce their agricultural productivity and undermine Africa’s agricultural sustainability.
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) presents a unique opportunity to address these issues and propel family farming to new heights. Under the agreement, African leaders can prioritise enabling policies, strengthen the capacities of family farming cooperatives and organisations, and improve the socio-economic inclusivity of family farmers.
In Africa, family farming is neglected in national and regional agricultural policies. African governments have prioritised large-scale commercial agriculture, believing it to be the key to rapid economic growth.
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This focus has led to inadequate support for small-scale family farmers, who comprise most of the agricultural sector. Hence, huge inequalities persist between rural and urban areas, smallholders, and large agricultural producers. This neglect has stifled the potential of family farmers to contribute to food security, poverty alleviation, and sustainable development.
Inclusive policies can bridge the existing inequalities between family farming and commercial farming and ensure that the potential of both models is capitalised for a more resilient agricultural system.
Policy shift
Addressing this neglect requires a fundamental shift in policy priorities. National and regional policies must recognise the vital role that family farming plays in Africa’s agricultural landscape. Governments should create supportive environments that include targeted subsidies, access to affordable credit, and investments in rural infrastructure.
Additionally, policies should encourage public-private partnerships to bring innovative solutions and investments to family farming. By prioritising family farming in policy frameworks, governments can unlock its potential to drive economic growth and improve food security across the continent.
Family farming in Africa is often characterised by an ageing labour force, limited access to modern farming technologies, and market volatility. These factors combine to translate to low productivity and low income for family farmers.
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Furthermore, these factors make it difficult for family farmers to compete with larger agribusinesses and contribute to the younger generation’s lack of interest in farming.
Youths are vital in the agricultural landscape for building sustainable agricultural systems. Their knowledge, energy, and open-mindedness can drive the adoption of modern farming practices and technologies for improved agricultural productivity, fostering food security for future generations.
One of the many significant advantages of the AfCFTA is its large networks, which can be utilised to drive projects. Under the AfCFTA agreement, African leaders can establish partnerships between key stakeholders and prioritise building a dynamic agricultural sector with structures, accessible technologies, access to markets, remunerative prices, etc., to encourage young people’s interest in agriculture.
Representation
The family farming model’s challenges today are mainly due to insufficient representation at national and regional policy-making levels. Family farmers often struggle to access markets and resources, and their lack of a unified voice hampers their ability to influence policies.
African governments should jointly promote the formation of family farming cooperatives and organisations, providing training and resources to help them thrive.
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These cooperatives can enable farmers to access larger markets and negotiate better prices by pooling resources and produce, reducing individual costs, and improving their competitive edge.
Additionally, cooperatives provide access to credit and financial services, essential resources, and capacity-building programmes, ensuring family farmers have the skills and information needed to succeed in a competitive market.
They also serve as a collective voice for family farmers, advocating for their interests in policy-making processes and ensuring more equitable and supportive policies.
Family farming can boost local economies and lift communities out of poverty. Despite its potential, it is largely neglected and undervalued in most African communities. The AfCFTA can aid in overcoming the barriers that stifle the advancement of family farming in Africa.
Chiamaka Adinnu is an Editorial Assistant at African Liberty, a U.S.-based think-tank focused on advancing individual freedom, peace, and prosperity in Africa. She has a master’s in Food Safety and Quality Engineering. She is available at cadinnu@africanliberty.org and on X as @adinnu_chiamaka. The opinions expressed here are the writer’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Chanzo. If you are interested in publishing in this space, please contact our editors at editor@thechanzo.com.
