“I stand with small-scale farmers because…”

Last week on Facebook, I asked you to fill in the blank and tell us why you support small farmers around the world. Dozens of you chimed in, creating a motivational stream of comments. Here are some of my favorites:

“That’s where true food security stands.” – Jean Armstrong Nick

“Land equals livelihoods.” – Maria Belding

“I trust them more than agri-industrial farms.” – Kathleen Bobb

“They are the best investment to ending world hunger!” – Kelsey Day

“I am a small-scale farmer too!” – Benjie Robinson and Vannavy Civic

Why are small-scale farmers so important to Oxfam’s mission to end poverty and hunger? Because about one in three workers worldwide rely on agriculture to earn a living. More than half of them are women, who are often overrepresented in the lowest-paid jobs. For both women and men, working on or owning a farm is no guarantee of a decent income: ironically, up to 80 percent of the world’s chronically hungry people are farmers. In order to help end hunger, we must make sure that poor farmers have the access, information, and opportunities they need to earn a living, feed their families, and thrive.

The global food system is a complicated machine, but together we are making changes to create a world where everyone has enough to eat.  Tell us your reasons for supporting small-scale farmers in the comments below, then take action to help by signing our petition to stop land grabs that leave farmers and their families hungry and homeless.