Sustainable agriculture

Around 80% of the world's extreme poor live in rural areas. In many developing countries, food security and rural development are ongoing challenges. On the other hand, there is a rural exodus: poor farmers move to the cities in search of income, placing a greater strain on food security. 

Access, skills and better services for farmers 

Our goal is an active agricultural sector that benefits from the potential of local and global agricultural development for food security and poverty reduction. In cooperation with scientists and the private sector, Swisscontact develops strategies to enable sustainable growth of production and income for farmers. We pay special attention that this growth does not happen at the expense of the environment.  

Swisscontact works with private and public partners:  

• to increase access of male and female farmers to improved products, services and know-how;
• to create market linkages and strengthen the entrepreneurial skills of farmers and farmers' organisations;
• to enhance the enabling environment, improve business support services and promote policies for sustainable and inclusive development;
• to make agriculture more sustainable by developing a supportive policy environment and promoting environmentally friendly practices, technologies and services.

Activities for a sustainable agriculture 

Modern agricultural policy must be coordinated with economic development, environmental and social policies in alignment with the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Under this premise, Swisscontact supports rural development at all levels:    

• We train and advise agricultural institutions on technical and organisational issues.
• We promote business models benefiting poor male and female farmers.
• We facilitate co-creation and sharing of information between public and private actors.
• We support a good investment climate.
• We advise governments and administrations on the development, implementation and impact measurement of agricultural policy objectives.
• We promote civil society groups and advise them, for example, on social participation and secure land rights.
• We support the development of urban-rural relations.