Abstract:

Many farmers face urgent problems of making sure there is enough food for their families for the whole year and earning sufficient income. Population growth and the increasing size of cities and towns mean that the amount of land available to grow food for each family is decreasing. Yields are not always high and the prices of agricultural products are generally declining. The amount of money available to buy food if it cannot be grown, to provide housing, travel and medical costs is also decreasing. The costs of agriculture are rising; artificial fertilizers and other chemicals are becoming more expensive, while farmers are not able to increase the prices of their products. There is a shortage of food both in terms of quantity, but also quality: the amount of nutrients in food that children need to grow and adults to stay strong and healthy is often too low