Thanks to all for your input on Topic #2 "Small farms’ contribution to resilience of the food system", aggregated here...
best, Peter
Q2.1/6 - Question: "2.1. What are the ways that small farms contribute to the resilience of the food system in your region? Please provide examples."
From: Lizzy Igbine Niwaafa <[log in to unmask]> (Nigeria)
Small farms are traditionally organic based and face less hazards and chemical pollution. They use traditional seeds, not GMO or laboratory prepared seeds. They have 100% quality seeds they have been tried and tested over the years. Though there are arguments that these seeds yield less quantities and may not support the food needs of the growing populations, these claims can not be compared with the side effects of growing food seeds genetically.
From: Scott E. Justice <[log in to unmask]> (Nepal)
In South Asia especially Bangladesh and Nepal (small farms contribute to the resilience of the food system), by intensifying farming - getting one whole other crop into the system, going from 1 to 2 crops or even 2 to 3 crops (Bangladesh especially). With intensification also came diversification into vegetables, pulses, oilseed.
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Q2.2/5 - Question: "2.2 Have small farms been more resilient compared to large farms in your region? What were the main factors that determined their resilience? Please provide examples."
From: Lizzy Igbine Niwaafa <[log in to unmask]> (Nigeria)
Small farms have been more resilient due to quality seeds and due to closeness of the farm owners to their farms. Small farm holders often times use animal wastes and practice mixed farming, in this case the plants, which are legumes, will support the other plants as manures and because traditional land clearings do not destroy the eco system.
The use of tractors in land clearing can reduce the lands fertility, Traditional land clearing maintain the ecosystem and save the trees which act as shades and buffers in the farms.The wrong use of chemicals and fertilizers by big farms brings about low resistance in the big farms.
From: Scott E. Justice <[log in to unmask]> (Nepal)
Yes, in Bangladesh and Nepal, it is mostly small farms and small holders who have intensified and diversified. Resilience- multi-cropping- first came from more assured irrigation water via spread ability to quickly and more cheaply drilled shallow tube wells and increased availability of inexpensive (mostly Chinese - mostly small < 7 HP) diesel and some petrol and some electric powered pumps.
Second resilience came from high levels of mechanization of tillage and threshing mostly through service provision of tillage via 2-wheel tractor (12-24 HP) and small 4-wheel tractors (25 -45 HP) and powered wheat, rice and maize threshers. This reduced turnaround times and simply put more time/room in the farming system, that allowed for more on time sowing/harvesting of the additional crops AND with the timeliness leading to yield gains.
From: Mahesh Chander <[log in to unmask]> (India)
This paper<http://www.spandan-india.org/cms/data/Article/A20155515919_20.pdf> may provide good information on small farmers in India.
It says:
1. Small farms involve cost economies due to use of family labour and lesser involvement of inputs and infrastructure.
2. Small holdings in India in agriculture exhibit a higher productivity than large holdings. Various studies in India during the 60s, 70s and in the later years have revealed that there is an inverse relationship between size of farms and productivity, despite a few researchers holdings contrary opinion. Findings by UN agencies and National Sample Survey (NSS) have supported farm size and productivity relationship. Despite their significance in providing food security, family labour employment and economy in management and high productivity per acre, small farms face a few challenges particularly in the wake of globalisation and WTO dispensation. Enhancing the productivity of small farms has been stressed by various experts. Measures like providing modern technology, information and knowledge for better skills and extended credit have been suggested for higher productivity of small farms.
3. Small farms need positive material and policy support by the Government.
4. The Indian government is trying to solve the problems in agricultural sector under its strategies towards doubling the farmers’ income by 2022<http://niti.gov.in/writereaddata/files/document_publication/DOUBLING%20FARMERS%20INCOME.pdf> ( A much talked about slogan in last one year). The government’s vision and mission on small farms’ productivity and profitability can be realized well if the suggestions given in this paper<http://www.ncap.res.in/upload_files/workshop/ws1_chapter1.pdf> are considered by the government.
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Q2.3/4 - Question: "2.3 What examples can you share where having more diverse product ranges and diverse channels have contributed to the resilience of small farms."
From: Lizzy Igbine Niwaafa <[log in to unmask]> (Nigeria)
In traditional farm settings we in the West African Region practice mixed farming this have been explained in my answers in 2.1 this is due to practice and result oriented records gathered from archaeologists, and land practice. As mixed farming ensures production of varieties it also supports recovery in times of poor harvests due to natural causes as the farmers always have residual crops to rely upon. Small farms have always stood the tide of times and are reliable durable and sustainable.
From: Scott E. Justice <[log in to unmask]> (Nepal)
The ability to move away from ox drawn tillage, where farmers have same number of cattle almost all milk cows / buffalo along with the spread of local chilling centers has led to increased incomes via commercial based white revolution.
More irrigation and mechanical tillage allows more farmers to participate in higher-value crops/vegetables for at least one season. New local marketing channels are slowly reaching deeper and further into rural areas to supply commercial/urban centers in attempts to replace imported produce.
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