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Empowering Smallholders and Strengthening Family Farms in Europe and Central Asia







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    Brochure
    FAO Regional Initiative: Empowering smallholders and strengthening family farms for improved rural livelihoods and poverty reduction in Europe and Central Asia 2016
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    Since the land reforms of the 1990s, dualistic farm structures characterize the landscape of most transition countries in Europe and Central Asia, with large numbers of small subsistence and semi commercial family farms. Poverty, social vulnerability and other difficulties could prevent rural communities from fulfilling their role as important building blocks of food security. By enhancing productivity and income levels through sustainable intensification of production, better organization, ade quate services and integration into agrifood value chains, this Regional Initiative can contribute to the global goals of eradicating rural poverty and achieving food security and sustainable growth. Activities focus on sustainable management of agricultural land and water resources; sustainable intensification of smallholders’ production; strengthening the organizations of small producers and family farms; and enhancing access to rural services – such as advisory services and micro-loans.
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    Empowering smallholders and family farms in Europe and Central Asia
    Support to the implementation of the Regional Initiative on Empowering Smallholders and Family Farms (TCP/RER/3601) - Regional Synthesis Report
    2020
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    The farm structures in the countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia are highly diverse, but in most of the countries are still largely dominated by smallholders and family farms. Supporting smallholders and family farms is one of four priorities for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Europe and Central Asia, confirmed by the FAO Regional Conference in 2018. FAO established in the region in 2014 the Regional Initiative on Empowering Smallholders and Family Farms for Improved Rural Livelihoods and Poverty Reduction (Regional Initiative 1) as a programmatic umbrella for the implementation of support to smallholders and family farms in the programme countries in the region. During 2018-2019, FAO REU conducted country studies on the needs and constraints of smallholders and family farms in eight countries of the region. Seven of these were funded from a regional project (TCP/RER/3601) and the Serbian study was financed from extra budgetary funds. The countries were selected from among those where smallholders and family farms dominate the farm structures and from the various sub-regions so that together they provide a regional overview. The countries covered in the report are Albania, Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Republic of Moldova, North Macedonia, Serbia and Tajikistan. The methodology was common among the eight country studies, although with some variations from country to country due to differences in national contexts. The eight studies were elaborated by national experts supported by international consultants and FAO technical guidance. The research methodology combines the use of desk research and statistics, interviews with key stakeholders, workshops with key stakeholders and decision makers, and the use of qualitative cases.
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    Innovation in family farming in Europe and Central Asia 2015
    In preparation for a panel discussion during the 39th session of the European Commission of Agriculture in Budapest, Hungary in September 2015, this background paper firstly summarizes the current theoretical discourse about the potential of national Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS) to contribute to the sustainable agricultural development in the (Central and Eastern) European and Central Asia (EECA) region.

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    FAO's four priorities - Regional office for the Near East and North Africa 2025
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    The Near East and North Africa (NENA) region is undergoing rapid transformation defined by both pressing challenges and emerging opportunities. From climate change and water scarcity to population growth, urbanization, and food import dependency, the region continues to navigate a dynamic landscape. Ongoing conflicts and instability have further impacted progress in achieving sustainable development. In this context, the FAO Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa (RNE) plays a crucial role in supporting countries to overcome these challenges and deliver on the priorities set by the Member States during the Near East Conference. The RNE Regional Priorities (RPs) serve as a coordinated programmatic roadmap for action, firmly anchored in the FAO’s Strategic Framework and its vision for the Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life. These priorities guide the implementation of country programmes across the region, focusing on transforming agrifood systems, enhancing food security, building climate resilience, and promoting inclusive, equitable growth. Together, through a coordinated and programmatic approach, we are driving meaningful progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while responding to the region’s unique needs and unlocking its potential.
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    Food policy monitoring in the Near East and North Africa region, 2nd Quarter 2025 | Bulletin
    Digital solutions for small-scale farmers in the NENA region: opportunities and challenges
    2025
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    In the second quarter of 2025, the food security situation in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region remained fragile due to ongoing conflict, relatively high food prices, and volatile agricultural production. While global food commodity prices showed marginal signs of stabilization, regional inflationary pressures and constrained access to food continued to affect vulnerable populations, especially in conflict-affected countries. At the same time, several governments in the region introduced new policy measures and investment initiatives aimed at improving agricultural resilience and food systems. Digital technologies also gained traction across NENA, offering promising tools for small-scale farmers, although gaps in infrastructure and access remain significant.