Texto horizontal: Fighting hunger worldwide

Working Together with Smallholder Farmers

Strengthening the local economy

In Ecuador, the indigenous population has been affected primarily by violence, poverty and
food insecurity. In 2014, around 2.53 million people in rural zones were living in adverse
conditions, 1.6 times more than the total population in urban zones (INEC, 2015).

According to the Ecuadorian authorities, between 2014 and 2015 more than 26% of the
population was working in agriculture, livestock production and fisheries (INEC, 2015). In
this regard, although the agricultural sector generates more employment, 24.5% overall at
the end of 2014 (INEC), the people who work in this sector earn 44.3% less than the average
income per capita. For this reason, the WFP has worked for 11 years, along with the Ecuador
government, to promote the participation of smallholder farmers and associations in new
markets with the aim of increasing their income and productivity.

As one of the priorities of the Nation Plan for Well-Being, the WFP has been promoting the
increase in levels of productivity in smallholder associations since 2013. Through technical
support and the inclusion of the smallholders themselves by means of the local purchasing
model, the WFP has been invigorating the local economy and increasing family incomes of
smallholder farmers. As a result, the WFP has substituted food rations for cash-based
transfers and vouchers that are used to purchase fresh and nutritious products provided by
smallholder associations and farmers, strengthening the local and family economy.

Objective:

To link smallholder farmers and promote the local purchasing model through school
activities within the framework of social protection and economic development policies. To
promote a sustainable life for smallholder farmers, with a focus on gender equality and
environmental protection.

School Meals

 Invigorate the local economy

 Local purchasing model

 Fresh and local produce

Now my family is eating better

José (protected name), his wife and his four children cultivated a small plot close to their
home. After several years as a labourer, José decided to invest his savings in his small family
plot. With the help of his crops, José and his family are eating more healthily, as well as
providing the WFP with fresh products.

Now his family are closer, he can spend more time with them, teaching his children the art
of agriculture so that they are aware of what family farming takes. As José says, “my family
has seen a change in their health, now that they know what they are consuming, because
we grow it without any chemical products.”

What we do
The national government and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries recognise
smallholder associations who provide the WFP with healthy, fresh and nutritional food for
school nutrition programs in Ecuador. For this, associations with a greater participation of
women will be prioritised.

The local food purchasing model is aimed at increasing the income of smallholder farmers,
especially women, in order to encourage their involvement in decision making processes
within and outside of their homes.

This assistance model allows the WFP to empower smallholder farmers to increase and
diversify their crops, improve food quality, management and agricultural practices looking
towards guaranteeing food and nutritional security with a focus on gender equality.

By means of the local purchasing model, smallholder farmers are invigorating household
and local economies by opening and accessing new local markets.

In connection with School Nutrition programs:

The WFP is working with the government of Ecuador, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry
of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries and local governments to supplement school
nutrition programs. This program provides daily rations of fresh products delivered to
schools by smallholder farmer associations in the north of Ecuador. Smallholder farm
associations deliver weekly products with a specific calorie, protein and iron content for
school lunches. The daily menus are the responsibility of a committee of parents and
teachers who are guided by the WFP to implement nutritious dishes that contribute to the
children’s successful development.

2016 results:
Through the WFP’s aid, smallholder farmers provide fresh, healthy and nutritious foods for
the most vulnerable populations who can now eat diverse and locally produced food,
improving their diet and invigorating the local economy through an innovative assistance
model.
  The WFP, in conjunction with national and local partners, promotes the
strenghtening of smallholder farmers’ abilities in management, sustainable farming,
access to markets and nutrition.
 In 2016, the WFP worked with 21 smallholder farmer associations in Esmeraldas,
Carchi and Imbabura.
 Nearly 1,800 smallholder farmers deliver locally grown produce to schools.
 In Sucumbíos, 920 parents deliver fresh and nutritious produce to schools in the
province.
 In the school year 2016-2017, more that 17,900 children have received school meals
in 182 schools.

For more information:

World Food Programme

Kyungnan.Park@wfp.org o Carmen.Galarza@wfp.org
PMA office in Quito, Ecuador: (593) 2 2460330 Ext. 1606 o 1625

Assistance programs
Assistance models