The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development covers 17 goals, the second of which is “zero hunger”, namely: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. (Click here for details)

Under this major goal, there are eight targets, the third of which is“By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists and fishers, including through secure and equal access to land, other productive resources and inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets and opportunities for value addition and non-farm employment.”

●  Current Situation

About the World

Small-scale Food Producers Are a Big Part of the Solution to World Hunger

Empowering small-scale food producers to participate fully in development is critical to improving food security and reducing poverty and hunger. Many small-scale and family farmers are poor; have limited capacities and resources; face regular food insecurity; and have limited access to markets and services. Both the income and productivity of small-scale food producers are systematically lower than those of their larger counterparts. The share of small-scale producers among all food producers in countries with data in Africa, Asia and Latin America ranges from 40 percent to 85 percent, compared to less than 10 percent in Europe. To strengthen the resilience and adaptive capacity of small-scale producers, it is important to help them improve their agricultural productivity. Equally important is enabling them to manage their natural resources sustainably; adapt to climate change; and overcome barriers in accessing markets, financial services, information and knowledge.

FAO and Ireland strengthen African agriculture sector through public-private partnership (Source: FAO)

Text Source: un.org

About China

Agricultural Production Leaps to a New Level, and Modern Agriculture Makes a New Blueprint

Since the founding of the people’s Republic of China 70 years ago, China’s agriculture has gone through a brilliant development process and made remarkable historical achievements. Not only less than 9% of the world’s arable land has been used to feed nearly 20% of the world’s population, but also people’s dining tables are more and more abundant and the quality is more and more excellent. After the reform and opening up, the rural reform marked by the household contract responsibility system has been comprehensively implemented, providing inexhaustible power for the rapid development of agriculture. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, China has adhered to the general policy of giving priority to the development of agriculture and rural areas, taking the implementation of the strategy of Rural Revitalization as the general starting point, deepened the reform of the rural land system, further promoted the reform of the rural collective property rights system, constantly improved the agricultural support and protection system, continued to deepen supply-side structural reform in agriculture. Agricultural production leap to a new level, and created a new blueprint for the development of modern agriculture.

(sohu.com)

The comprehensive agricultural production capacity has been significantly enhanced, the agricultural structure has been continuously optimized, and high-quality agricultural products have developed rapidly. The agricultural infrastructure and the level of agricultural production technology has been significantly improved. Profound changes have taken place in the mode of agricultural production, and the new agricultural management system has been continuously improved.

(sohu.com)

Text Source: National Bureau of Statistics

●  Cases

About the World

Empowering Farmers Through Innovation is Key for Sustainable Development

It is fundamental to support smallholder and family farmers by enhancing their access to innovation for sustainable food systems and to foster sustainable development, FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu said on November 6th, 2019. He made the remarks during a discussion on Enhancing access to innovation in agriculture to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at FAO headquarters in Rome.

“Innovation in agriculture is a way to enhance effectiveness, competitiveness and resilience with limited land and other limited resources,”Qu said. However, the FAO chief noted that smallholder and family farmers, especially those in small island countries and other vulnerable regions, are facing enormous challenges and often have difficulties in accessing agricultural innovation. To remedy this, Qu called on research institutions and academia to seek new pathways to transfer their innovative outcomes to people who most need them.

An FAO expert introduces a new mobile application that helps maize farmers to combat Fall Army Worm invasion in the North Central province of Sri Lanka.

The FAO Director-General also highlighted the need to promote new business models to make innovation accessible to millions of farmers, citing as an example FAO’s new Hand-in Hand Initiative. Through “matchmaking” the initiative aims to support development efforts in the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, Small Island Developing States, many of which are affected by food crises.

The event saw the participation of FAO experts, member-counties and academia, who discussed actions to improve access to innovation in agriculture to contribute to socio-economic growth, ensure food and nutrition security, alleviate poverty and support the achievement of the SDGs.

It was also noted that innovation does not necessarily come in the form of the latest technology and high-tech solutions. Innovation also means scaling-up existing, reliable solutions through international cooperation and multi-stakeholder engagement, or creating the enabling environment to ensure the transfer of innovative methods, technologies and solutions to those who are mostly in need of them.

Text Source: FAO

About China

Shenzhen Modern Agriculture Achievements Exhibition is Brilliantly Presented at the 5th Shenzhen International Modern Green Agriculture Expo

From August 29 to 31, 2019, the 2019 China•Shenzhen (5th) International Modern Green Agriculture Expo was held in hall 7, 8 and 9 of the exhibition center.

A scene of the opening ceremony (Source: Pingjiang Chamber of Commerce)

With the support of Shenzhen Municipal Market Supervision Bureau, Shenzhen Agricultural Industrialization Leading Enterprise Association organized 25 agricultural enterprises and institutions to participate in Shenzhen Modern Agricultural Achievements Exhibition. The achievements exhibition is divided into three parts, mainly showing the development of modern agriculture in Shenzhen, achievements in agricultural science and technology equipment, agricultural industrialization and “vegetable basket” guarantee policy in recent years, and achievements of Shenzhen-standard enterprises, advanced inspection technology and traceability system in the field of quality and safety supervision for agricultural products in Shenzhen.

Text Source: sohu.com

●  Background

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Initiated by the United Nations

On January 1, 2016, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including 169 targets, of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development — adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at an historic UN Summit — officially came into force. Countries will mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind.