Farming for the Future: Communication efforts to Advance Family Farming

Farming for the Future: Communication efforts to Advance Family Farming
File Size:
3.26 MB
Version:
2014
Author:
FAO
Date:
18 March 2015
Downloads:
4040 x

FAO Farming for the Future Page 01This document has been prepared to inspire reflection about the role of communication in advancing family farming. It includes an analysis of examples of ComDev approaches applied to smallholder farming and rural development and the issues that they encompass: food security, natural resource management, rural livelihoods, agricultural innovation, and capacity development. One emerging concept is that of “rural communication services,” which seeks to enhance rural livelihoods by facilitating equitable access to knowledge and information – understood as public goods – along with social inclusion in decision-making and stronger links between rural institutions and local communities.6 An additional concept pertains to the need to develop national communication for development policies and strategies that focus on the information and communication needs of family farmers and rural communities. Such policies would help to mainstream and institutionalize ComDev  pproaches at different levels and among all development partners, in particular among  overnmental agriculture and telecommunication ministries and media regulators but also among  armers’ organizations, rural institutions, community media and the private sector.