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Family Farming14 almanaCSo what doeS the future hold for family farmerS?Well, that depends on whether the public and private sectors support and invest in smallholder family farms. Improving the productivity and profits of small farms not only increases food supply for growing populations, it also contributes sig- nificantly to combating one of humanity’s biggest challenges: the eradication of poverty. Investing in small-scale farmers is both good business and good devel- opment. Growth in the agricultural sector is estimated to be about three times as effective in reducing poverty as growth in other sectors.an alternative for developmentWhat is IFAD doing during the IYFF to support smallholder farms and the people who live and work on them? Firstly, we are strengthening our advocacy at the international level, including financial and political support to family farmers to enable their voices to be heard in global and regional policy processes. In Febru- ary 2014 for example, IFAD organized the 4th Farmers’ Forum, bringing together farmers’ organizations from around the world and providing an opportunity for debate and an exchange of experiences regarding policies and practice.© IFad/marCo SalUSTro