Rejuvenating Agriculture: Keeping Young Farmers in the Field

1. REJUVENATING AGRICULTURE KEEPING YOUNG FARMERS IN THE FIELD Dr. Daniel Ruiz de Garibay World Rural Forum Coordinator for Asia-Pacific www.ruralforum.net

2. www.ruralforum.net www.familyfarmingcampaign.net

3. Family Farming • a means of organizing agricultural, forestry, fisheries, pastoral and aquaculture production which is managed and operated by a family and predominately reliant on family labour, both women’s and men's. • The family and the farm are linked, coevolve and combine economic, environmental, reproductive, social and cultural functions. • (FAO, 2013) www.ruralforum.net www.familyfarmingcampaign.net

4. Research “Problems” • Young not wanting to go into farming • Aging rural population • Migration rural-urban • Profitability of farming • Youth as agent of change (in farming / in rural development) www.ruralforum.net www.familyfarmingcampaign.net

5. Methodology • Farmers at the centre of the design and implementation of policies affecting them • World Rural Forum Network • International Year of Family Farming 2014 • Decade of Family Farming 2019 – 2028 • Questionnaires 125 responses / 30 countries • Exercise of inclusion in itself www.ruralforum.net www.familyfarmingcampaign.net

6. National Committees on Family Farming • Multistate holders platforms • Ensure farmers are involved in the policy process • To promote dialogue and political action to obtain better public policies www.ruralforum.net www.familyfarmingcampaign.net

7. NCFF active at agenda setting stage www.ruralforum.net www.familyfarmingcampaign.net

8. Young people and family farming: the diagnosis • 1,2 billion young people (age 15 -24) • 16% of global population • Migration to urban centres • Youth unemployment • Youth strategic actors for sustainable development www.ruralforum.net www.familyfarmingcampaign.net

9. Young people and family farming: issues of concern • Aging and low level of hand over to the next generation(27% over 55 y/0) Countries with no pension schemes • Unprofitability • Unattractive live style www.ruralforum.net www.familyfarmingcampaign.net

10. Young people and family farming: challenges • Farmers’ low identity and self-image • Farming is not a profitable job • Insecure land ownership and increasing land price • Lack of rural infrastructure • Lack of supportive government policies and programs directed to facilitate access to land, credit finance and market • Inadequate education curriculum • Inadequate institutions to facilitate the organisation of young farmers www.ruralforum.net www.familyfarmingcampaign.net

11. Young people and family farming: results and analysis • Farming as life project • Education reform • Networking • Practical training • Mentoring experience • Self steam • Marketing, ITCs, Management • Mainstreaming youth farmers into farmers associations www.ruralforum.net www.familyfarmingcampaign.net

12. Proposals for lines of action • Measures to improve economic viability • Promoting participation by young people associations and federations • The right to have access to land and capital and to use it must be guaranteed • Facilitating transmission of holdings • Access to high-quality rural education • Improving technical assistance and rural extension services • Improving living conditions in rural areas • Boosting social recognition of farming www.ruralforum.net www.familyfarmingcampaign.net

13. www.ruralforum.net www.familyfarmingcampaign.net

14. Follow us • @WorldRuralForum • https://www.facebook.com/WorldRuralForum/ • www.ruralforum.net • www.familyfarmingcampaing.net www.ruralforum.net www.familyfarmingcampaign.net