www.bread.org/article/challeng...llholder-farmers/
Smallholder farmers are vital to food systems around the world. There are an estimated 600 million smallholder farmers working on less than 5 acres (2 hectares) of land, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Many provide affordable, fresh, and nutritious food to their local communities. Yet they often face challenges due to limited resources, improper infrastructure, lack of funding, gender biases, or other socioeconomic factors. Moreover, smallholder farmers are often disproportionately affected by hunger. About three quarters of the estimated 828 million people experiencing hunger around the world live in rural areas, according to the United Nations — and many of them are farmers. Climate change has also played a role, as the increase in severe weather events and less predictable patterns can negatively impact harvests.