How farmers can help eradicate world hunger – in 10 steps

Worldwide, there’s enough food to feed everyone – and yet, one out of nine people suffer from chronic hunger. The data is revealed by FAO – the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization – in anticipation of World Food Day, on 16 October.

An increasingly hungry world

“In September 2015, 193 countries at the UN Sustainable Development Summit in New York adopted Agenda 2030 and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Participants pledged to end poverty and hunger, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all,” reads the document that FAO released to mark the date.

Despite this, hunger and malnourishment are on the rise. In 2016, the number of undernourished people was 815 million – a 38 million increase from the previous year.

Why? According to FAO, the increase of violent conflicts around the world, which have contributed to forced migration, as well as droughts and other extreme weather events, “have adversely affected food supplies and income and led to increased displacement.” Economic slowdowns and rising obesity levels are also to blame.

The role of farmers and rural communities, then, is fundamental to solving this crisis.

10 steps to eradicate world hunger – for farmers

According to FAO, “whether [farmers] work on small family farms or in small food enterprises, their decisions will help shape the future of food and nutrition.”

Here are ten steps the organization recommends that farmers take if they want to contribute to a hunger-free world.

1. Promote equality

“Zero Hunger can only succeed in a society that is fair and equal for all” – which means that farmers and smallholders should promote gender equality and empower indigenous peoples and youth.

2. Pursue resource-efficiency

FAO recommends that farmers manage natural resources in a sustainable and efficient manner, to guarantee their “future availability, protect the environment, and increase profits by reducing waste.”

3. Adapt to climate change

Farmers should adopt a “Climate-Smart Agriculture approach” in order to fight the challenges that climate change poses. This includes using drought- and disease-resistant seeds or breeding livestock suited to warmer temperatures.

4. Diversify crops

“Growing pressure on the demand for land to grow crops for biofuel production and bio-fortified food will simultaneously increase the demand for agro-biodiversity.” Thus, it is important that farmers diversify their crops to maintain healthy soils, regulate pests and diseases and decrease carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

5. Produce more with less

The world’s population is expected to be 9 billion by 2050 – and agriculture will have to produce 60% more than it does today. That is why farmers should “find new, more productive ways to farm food and diversify their crops.” This would also be beneficial for themselves, as it would increase crop yields and thus their profits.

Read also: 3 reasons to use AgTech in your farm

6. Make their voices heard

“Farmers and agribusinesses should participate in policy, programme, and monitoring processes at all levels, to contribute their knowledge and expertise, and make their voices heard.”

7. Unite as cooperatives

Vulnerable rural populations have a harder time getting their views taken into account by policymakers, so it’s important that they unite and form local cooperatives to empower themselves.

8. Cut post-harvest losses

By using “adequate storage facilities,” adopting new technologies and “undergoing relevant training,” farmers can greatly reduce post-harvest losses.

9. Leverage the power of technology

“Modern digital technology and software, such as mobile device apps, can help farmers mitigate and fight the effects of extreme weather events, by allowing them to share information rapidly, access up-to-the-minute data and discover innovative farming solutions,” says FAO.

10. Educate the farmers of the future

FAO recommends that farms and agribusinesses help educate a new generation of farmers – thereby increasing their workforce and producing more food.

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