Child labour in family farming is particularly difficult to tackle when family farmers are the most impacted by poverty and vulnerability, and face high levels of economic, financial, social and environmental risks. Which agricultural policies and strategies related to family farming have led to a reduction of child labour in agriculture?
Family farming is extremely important for families affected by conflict, family farming is essential for the family's own food consumption, for their income, and also to supply food for the community. Family farmers are often already very vulnerable in developing countries and conflict exasperates their situation; conflict can displace these families, damage lands and livestock, or impede agricultural work because of insecurity. This can increase child labour in agriculture but also outside of agriculture, as children may need to support their families through other income-generating activities, such as begging or even joining armed groups. Supporting these family farmers can prevent child labour, but also improve the nutrition and wellbeing of communities. Agricultural policies may be hard to implement in conflict zones where state authorities lack capacity or there are no state authorities operating. However, agricultural programmes alongside social protection programmes, supported by international and national organizations, would make a difference in the lives of family farmers living in conflict zones. I have seen such impact myself through programmes that support family farmers living in conflict zones by providing i) income to families to support their work in agriculture, ii) agricultural products, such as chickens, seeds, or greenhouses to also support their work, and iii) technical support to families to start their own work or business in agriculture. Supporting family farmers in conflict zones can be life-saving for families and communities and also contribute to building the resilience and recovery of countries in conflict.
3) Family farming
Child labour in family farming is particularly difficult to tackle when family farmers are the most impacted by poverty and vulnerability, and face high levels of economic, financial, social and environmental risks. Which agricultural policies and strategies related to family farming have led to a reduction of child labour in agriculture?
Family farming is extremely important for families affected by conflict, family farming is essential for the family's own food consumption, for their income, and also to supply food for the community. Family farmers are often already very vulnerable in developing countries and conflict exasperates their situation; conflict can displace these families, damage lands and livestock, or impede agricultural work because of insecurity. This can increase child labour in agriculture but also outside of agriculture, as children may need to support their families through other income-generating activities, such as begging or even joining armed groups. Supporting these family farmers can prevent child labour, but also improve the nutrition and wellbeing of communities. Agricultural policies may be hard to implement in conflict zones where state authorities lack capacity or there are no state authorities operating. However, agricultural programmes alongside social protection programmes, supported by international and national organizations, would make a difference in the lives of family farmers living in conflict zones. I have seen such impact myself through programmes that support family farmers living in conflict zones by providing i) income to families to support their work in agriculture, ii) agricultural products, such as chickens, seeds, or greenhouses to also support their work, and iii) technical support to families to start their own work or business in agriculture. Supporting family farmers in conflict zones can be life-saving for families and communities and also contribute to building the resilience and recovery of countries in conflict.