Sufficient and suitable food supply is necessary for eliminating food poverty and hunger. The world needs to intensify efforts to transform agriculture. It is necessary to increase total farm productivity in developing countries where food is needed most. Sustainable agriculture seeks to makes the most efficient use of natural goods by integrating certain process such as soil regeneration, nitrogen fixation and nutrient cycling into food production processes. It ensures minimal use of non-renewable resources that hurt the environment and it makes resourceful use of farmers’ skills and social capital (people’s abilities to work together to solve problems.) Sustainable agriculture technology is always modified locally. Listed below are four ways sustainable agriculture reduces poverty.

1. Significant Increases in Food Production
As a result of sustainable agriculture, increases have appeared as yield improvements or as more diversity of produce. For the 4.42 million farmers on 3.58 million hectares, average food production per household increased by 73 percent. For the 146,000 farmers on 542,000 hectares cultivating roots, food production increased by 150 percent. For the larger farms in Latin America, average size of 90 hectares per farm, total production increased by 46 percent.

2. Three-Step Process Leads to Self-Sufficiency
A small, enclosed garden is the first of the three steps. With instruction and materials like equipment and seed, this can supply nutrition for a family. In step two, the family adds a diverse selection of crops to their fields. In step three, the animals chosen are usually smaller animals like goats, sheep, guinea pigs, rabbits or chickens. These animals provide beneficial protein for the family.

3. Creates Community
As each family experiences success with their farm, they pass their knowledge on to their neighbors and community. As families share ideas and goods, they create a close-knit community.

4. Sustainable Agriculture Programs Build an Educated Population
Self-sufficiency indicates a healthier family with the confidence to work hard and maybe even the initiative to get an education and participate more in the community.

– Colleen Moore

Sources: Huff Post, World Bank