The Farm Risk Management for Africa (FARMAF) Project, funded by the EU, was launched in Ouagadougou on 26-27 September 2012. It aims to improve food security and livelihoods of the rural poor in Africa by enhancing smallholder farmers' access to sustainable tools and instruments to manage farm risks.

The launch workshop highlighted the fact that the ability of farmers to anticipate, avoid, and respond to natural and economic shocks is crucial for poverty reduction, food security and indeed a viable agricultural sector. However, African farmers, smallholders in particular, often lack access to tools which can help them to manage the pre- and post-harvest risks they are faced with. FARMAF aims to make these tools and services available to smallholder farmers. By doing so, FARMAF contributes to sustainable improvements in the livelihoods of farmers in Africa.

During the launch workshop the experience in Burkina Faso, Tanzania and Zambia with different tools (insurance, market information systems, warehouse receipt systems and collective action) were discussed, and suggestions were made on how these can be improved and strengthened through collaboration of Regional Producers Organisations (PAFO, ROPPA, EAFF, SACAU and PROPAC), National Farmers Organisations (MWIWATA, CPF and ZNFU) and Agrinatura Research Institutes (CIRAD, NRI and WUR).

For more information contact:
Gideon Onumah or Hanneke Lam