The reception, sponsored by Saqib Bhatti MP, highlighted the need to support smallholder farmers worldwide in tackling the climate crisis.
Smallholder farmers produce the majority of food in developing countries – and despite being at the forefront of the climate crisis, they receive little to no support to adapt to the impact it is causing to their livelihoods.
At the parliamentary event, Farm Africa called for financial support for smallholders in developing nations, which will aid them to adapt their business where climate change has caused the most impact and to invest in resources that will help mitigate its further impact.
Additionally, called to close the gender gap by prioritising support for female smallholder farmers, who are often most vulnerable to the effects of climate change and often left out of climate change decision-making processes.
“I am proud to be an ambassador of Farm Africa, an organisation that is helping smallholder farmers across eastern Africa to implement climate-smart agricultural practices to grow and sell more, while protecting the environment for generations to come.”
NFU President Minette Batters
Attention was also drawn to the UK Government's latest White Paper on International Development, which reiterates a commitment to leave no-one behind in the goal to end extreme poverty and tackle climate change.
Climate crisis is causing ‘challenge after challenge’
Farm Africa works to help farmers across eastern Africa to grow more, sell more and sell for more. It also helps farmers to become more resilient to the effects of climate change and to access markets so they can increase their income and build sustainable businesses.
“Farmers all over the world are being hit by challenge after challenge as the climate crisis accelerates, threatening food security”, said NFU President Minette Batters.
She added: “I am proud to be an ambassador of Farm Africa, an organisation that is helping smallholder farmers across eastern Africa to implement climate-smart agricultural practices to grow and sell more, while protecting the environment for generations to come.”
Dr Diana Onyango will also speak at the parliamentary reception on behalf of Farm Africa. She said: “Across eastern Africa, smallholder farmers, the people most likely to be living in extreme poverty, are being left on their own to adapt to a climate crisis they did not create.
“Getting the sustainable development goals back on track means supporting smallholder farmers, especially female farmers who are most affected by the climate crisis.”
