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StateWide Small Farm Programs

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Areas of expertise & Fields of activity:	Sustainable Development: Agriculture Capacity-building Demographics Indicators Institutional arrangements Partnerships Rural Development Sustainable development in a globalizing world
Geographic scope:	International
Country of activity:	United States of America Brazil
Millennium Development Goals:	Improve maternal health Ensure environmental sustainability Develop global partnership for development
Mission statement:	A key issue within global agricultural research and development is the need to positively focus on the sustainable development of small farmers, resource poor farmers and their families. Though these farmers make up approximately 90% of the worlds farmers, generally they have not had equal access and participation in programs and training designed to assist large producers and agribusinesses. Generally, agricultural research and extension has sought out medium and large farmers, thought more successful, innovative, and readily able to adopt technology and contribute to growth and development. It is important to ensure local food security with agricultural management strategies that enhance sustainable agroecological production, climate proof local food systems, and also embrace the benefit and important role of local small farm populations. MISSION STATEMENT: FAMU Statewide Small Farm Programs is an active participatory capacity building program designed to assist and equip underserved small farm populations and their families toward a thriving sustainable development: The Mission of the program is to provide relevant participatory education, hands-on training and technical assistance to underserved rural and urban farming populations in the areas of sustainable living, sustainable agroecological farming strategies, value-added benefits, etc. - to enhance viability, well being and quality of life. Participatory farmer capacity building sessions include hands-on agroecological farming, organic pest management, benefits of sustainable farming, small farm biofuels production and management, small farm sustainable biofuels model, etc. Small agroecological organic methods farms are uniquely sustainable and beneficial to the environment. Recently, in our June 2011 meeting in Brazil with small family farmers and teachers we discussed successful agroecology and collaboration in development of an agroecological small farm biofuels model that would be a sister project to one that we have developed for small organic farmers in the United States. Our students would like to present information about the success of the project during the Rio+ 20 Conference. We have participated in the 2002 World Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, two of our participants were youngest youth delegate participants. We have participated in several United Nations CSD sessions. We are requesting active participation in the Rio + 20 Conference.
Organizational structure:	Farmer participation. We work with small family farmers to determine needs, possible solutions, assist in development of sustainable development learning sessions including successful agroecological farm strategies, sustainable biofuels production and management for small farmers/and small farm biofuels model, value-added benefits, sustainable living, etc.
Number and type of members:	No membership fee, membership is open to all. The Program works with underserved small farm populations, several thousand farmers have participated in education and hand-on training efforts addressing sustainable development.
Affiliation with NGO networks:	Universidade Federal de Vicosa, Centro de Tecnologias Alternativas da Zona da Mata, Southern Diaspora Research and Development Center, Pan African Movement, Florida A&M University
Funding structure:	Donations and grants from domestic sources
Funding structure other:	Land-grant University. Participatory education and hands-on training/participatory capacity building sessions are provided through community collaborations, partnerships, etc.

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