Opinion: From rhetoric to reality

Anil Gupta wonders why, if biodiversity is so important, there is so much poverty in regions rich in biodiversity. How can we justify the billions of dollars that have been spent on inter-governmental panels with practically no change in the rights of, and opportunities for, the people in these regions? National governments and civil society … Read more

Our readers write

Our readers write We welcome comments, ideas and suggestions. Send an e-mail to ileia[at]ileia.org or write to P.O. Box 2067, 3800 CB Amersfoort, the Netherlands. Livestock services: free or fee? (1) If livestock output is to be improved, farmers should be provided with free or highly subsidised livestock services, especially when it comes to animal … Read more

Helping farmers deal with disaster

Farmers need more than loans to sustain their business. Micro-insurance can help farmers avoid falling into poverty traps because of disasters. When farmers in, for example, Africa experience a severe drought that kills livestock, and harms family members, they are often left with no livestock and no yield. In the most extreme cases this may … Read more

Thinking beyond credit

Yes, credit can be a useful instrument for farmers to improve their income. But it does have its drawbacks. Credit programmes often undermine farmers’ independence and oblige them to take all the risk. Jan Douwe van der Ploeg assesses the pros and cons, and looks for alternatives. Farming Matters | 26.2 | June 2010 Credit … Read more

Ensuring finance with a contract

The eagle flies in Zambia: Zambian Breweries, a subsidiary of the brewing giant SABMiller, produces a local beer from locally produced sorghum. Contracts with a large number of subsistence farmers provide these farmers with a link to a commercial market, and a secure income. Advanced payments help farmers buy the necessary inputs. Is the Eagle … Read more

Our ambition matches the size of the problem

Jose Antonio Osaba – The World Rural Forum wants the United Nations to declare an International Year of Family Farming. In an interview with Farming Matters, José Antonio Osaba explains why. “Family farming can be a very significant instrument to overcome hunger and poverty.” Osaba and his team have set themselves a huge task, but … Read more

Local resources: Great capital

How can farmers access capital when commercial banks consider them “unbankable”? The solution lies in making the most of local resources. Rural villages can raise their own funds and use these for loans, says Alfred Lakwo, of the Agency for Accelerated Regional Development in Uganda. As in many other countries, smallscale farmers in remote rural … Read more

Theme overview: Everybody benefits from financial products for small-scale farmers

Money for farming not only means access to credit, but also access to other financial products and services. Small-scale farmers can also benefit from being able to insure themselves against risk and being able to save. When it comes to money, there is a gap between what small-scale farmers need and what they have access … Read more

The Future of Family Farming – The philosophy of slow growth

La Cabrita is a real family farm. Guicella Igreda Lix (40) and her father Don Manuel (80) manage the goat breeding and forage cultivation together.   Guicella’s mother, brother and two sisters are responsible for pigs, poultry and the dairy and cheese plant. La Cabrita’s products have gained international organic certification, a big success for … Read more

MONEY FOR FARMING

Farming Matters | 26.2 |June 2010Over the past decade, microcredit facilities have mushroomed and many groups of small farmers and landless people, notably women have benefited. Microcredit however is often not enough to help farmers build viable and sustainable farms.Farmers who want to invest in making their farm sustainable are faced with the challenge of transition … Read more