THE development of rural areas, including services such as an internet connection, is necessary to stop the decline of small-holder family farming, which experts see as vital for youth employment and food security. As reported by euractiv, the 500 million or so small-holder farms worldwide are estimated to supply some two billion people with regular food. In Europe, some 95 per cent of farms are at least partly family owned. The United Nations has declared 2014 the International Year of Family Farming to highlight their importance in the food security debate. But many such farms face the risk of disappearing unless young people can be persuaded to carry on the profession rather than seek “greener pastures” in cities, one expert quipped ironically at a family farming event hosted by the farming cooperative association Copa-Cogeca on Wednesday (19 January). One third of farmers are over 65 years of age and only six per cent under 35. “Intergenerational farming is essential. It is a very obvious model that has to be part of the solution to the challenge we face, with farmers leaving the business,” said Gwilym Jones, a member of cabinet for the agriculture and rural development commissioner, Dacian Ciolos. “If farmers do not earn enough they will join those cities that are creaking under the weight of their population.” Delegations from Argentina and Brazil have been visiting Moscow lately to explore the opportunities to boost their trade with Russia for poultry products and other foods. According to the poultrysite, the South American meat sector is making a concerted effort to fill the gap in the Russian market left by the ban on imports from the European Union, the United States, Canada, Australia and Norway. A trade mission from the Argentinian Ministry of Agriculture has been in Moscow in a bid to diversify and expand exports. The delegation demonstrated the performance of the sector over the last 10 years and future perspectives. The Secretary of Institutional Political and Agricultural Emergency Coordination, Javier Rodriguez, stressed the strategic importance of the relationship with Russia and the work that has been done since early this year in conjunction with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Enhancement Programme and Export Diversification. He said that there are good prospects opening up for the export of poultry and other foods. A total of 113 Argentine firms were present, of which 88 belong to the food industry. The delegation also took part in the International Fair World Food Moscow, which is the most important in relation to food event held in region. The event was also attended by meat exporters from Brazil. The Association of Brazilian Animal Protein said that it was an opportunity to fill the space left after the barriers imposed on the European Union, United States and Australia. ABPA said that the commercial relationship with Russia, however, is still considered unstable. “Historically there is some caution in relation to Russia, because the industry does not know how long it can plan and count on the demand of the market,” said the vice president of the ABPA, Rui Vargas. He said that in the past the industry has come to face oversupply and falling prices after raising investments with a focus on the Russian market. ABPA and the Brazilian Association of Meat Export Industry have been in Moscow alongside representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture for the World Food Moscow. ift.tt/1051spd ift.tt/VoUHN3 [[Boost your social presence with NAIRALIKES nairalikes ]] #nigeria x #nairalikes #vanguardng
Posted on: Sat, 27 Sep 2014 23:06:00 +0000
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