Food Security

We know, that smallholder farmers in developing countries play an important role in global food security matrix.

In fact, research has shown that more than 80% (475 million) of the world’s farms operate on less than two hectares of land, yet astoundingly, provide an estimated 80% of the food produced in Asia and in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) (Lowder et al. 2014). Despite the key role smallholder farmers play in achieving global food security and nutrition, many of these farmers are living in poverty with limited access to markets, credit, and other essential services.

For over 75 years, CDF Canada has been working with its partners across the three key pillars of the integrated co-operative model, to achieve food security and income generation.

For over 75 years, CDF Canada has been working with its partners across the three key pillars of the integrated co-operative model, to achieve food security and income generation.

Our Producer co-op provides collaborative, hands-on learning to enable farmers to improve their farming methods and enhance production, while minimizing environmental impact.

Our Marketing co-op helps sell the co-op and farmers’ products, allowing them to:

• Have greater negotiation power, thus better prices for their products and;
• build their wealth.

We work closely with the Financial co-ops (Credit Unions in Canada) who provide secure loans and savings products for the farmers.

The co-operative approach produces long-term economic and environmental benefits that help smallholder farmers succeed, well beyond the life of any given project.