papalagiblog:In 2003 the Russian President signed into law a further “Private Garden Plot Act” enabl

papalagiblog:In 2003 the Russian President signed into law a further “Private Garden Plot Act” enabling Russian citizens to receive free of charge from the state, plots of land in private inheritable ownership. Sizes of the plots differ by region but are between one and three hectares each [1 hectare = 2.2 acres]. read more“Taken from the Moscow Times Feb 26 2014In Russia, since much of the agricultural output is produced on small plots of land or dachas, there is little to no need for the use of heavy machinery that large, industrial farms use. Furthermore, the dacha movement has given way to an ecovillage movement — a movement that has encourages many families to create environmentally friendly and socially just agricultural settlements in which families live on and maintain about one hectare of land. Both the dacha and ecovillage movements have, according to a 2005 report presented at a University of Missouri conference, conserved biodiversity, decreased pressure on lands under commercial agriculture and preserved the genes of heirloom vegetables.Rural areas, where most family farmers live, suffer from higher rates of poverty than urban ones. In Russia, 42 percent of the population living under the poverty line resides in rural areas.Supporting the success of family farms — and increasing the incomes of family farmers — will significantly raise the overall standard of living in Russia. Research from Oxfam shows that investing in small farmers also creates a “multiplier” effect that extends beyond the farming — farmers spend a big share of their income in other sectors, including construction, infrastructure and manufacturing. As a result of the proliferation of household plots in rural areas, nominal incomes tripled between 1997 and 1999.Small family farms carry the potential to feed the hungry, stimulate economies, and protect the environment. With these sorts of impressive returns, donors, nonprofits and governments need to invest in programs and infrastructure that support smallholder farmers. When feeding the world is what is at stake, there is no time to wait.Russia has 18.8 million acres of family gardens, which produce US$14 billion worth of products per year, equivalent to over 50% of Russia’s agricultural output, or 2.3% of the country’s GDP (Rosstat 2007b). The United States, on the other hand, have 27.6 million acres of lawn, which produce a US$30 billion per year lawn care industry (Bormann, Balmori, and Geballe 2001).” -- source link

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