What is family poultry?
The majority of the world’s poor rely on raising livestock for their day to day living.
Many people who live in rural areas keep small flocks of scavenging poultry generally known as village, rural or family poultry.
The family poultry system serves as a financial safety net for people in developing communities.
The health of this system is integral to poverty alleviation and food security.
What role does family poultry important play in improved livelihoods and food security?
Compared with commercial operations, flocks are small in size but are an important asset providing their owners with highly nutritious meat and eggs that can be consumed by the family, bartered or sold to provide additional income or used to fulfill social obligations.
Rural poultry also provide manure, are active in pest control and are essential for many traditional ceremonies and treatments.
How can empowering women farmers further improve outcomes?
In many countries the birds are owned and managed by women and children.
KYEEMA works with this demographic to improve poultry health and production and control Newcastle disease. Empowering women and addressing gender imbalances in communities through agriculture is believed to be useful in improving general nutrition and health outcomes.
Family farms
Our commitment to improve family poultry is part of a broader movement to promote a policy environment that embraces the unique potential of family farming to move towards more productive and sustainable food systems.
Family and small-scale farming are inextricably linked to world food security.
Family farming preserves traditional food products, while contributing to a balanced diet and safeguarding the world’s agro-biodiversity and the sustainable use of natural resources.
Family farming represents an opportunity to boost local economies, especially when combined with specific policies aimed at social protection and well-being of communities
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations has created a Family Farming Knowledge Platform to assist decision making on family farming.
Join FAO’s Marcela Villarreal to learn more about the importance of family farming.