What is a smallholder farmer?

80% of farms in Africa are less than 2 hectares. While there is no strict definition for a smallholder farmer, they tend to own a small plot of land. All of the labor used to maintain the crops comes from the family or the community and usually only subsistence or a few cash crops are grown.

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Who is the typical farmer?

According to the United Nations, 70% of farm labor comes from women. In Kenya, 85% of maize farms are run by women. Women are the face and heart of agriculture. These women rely upon their family for labor and community.

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What is subsistence farming?

In subsistence farming, crops are grown with the intent to feed the farmer and family. If a farmer has surplus from her harvest, then she can choose to sell the extra food as income. If the crops are destroyed, she is left with few choices as the food she grows is often times the only food her family will be able to eat.