From Big to Small: The Significance of Smallholder Farms in the Global Food System

The role smallholder farmers play in addressing global food security is highlighted in this article. Small farms found in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, southeast Asia, and China produce 75% of food commodities globally, and 50–65% of the production volume of major food groups. As major food producers trend toward homogenizing their crops, the authors stress the importance of providing resources to smallholder farms in order to promote diverse production. Suggested support includes better connecting rural farmers to markets, empowering and engaging women farmers, and jumpstarting entrepreneurship among smallholder farmers.