Smallholders

Smallholders are farmers who operate relatively small agricultural plots, typically relying mainly on family labour and limited financial, technical and mechanical resources. They often produce commodities such as cocoa, coffee, palm oil, cotton or hazelnuts for local markets or global supply chains. Smallholders play a major role in food production but may face challenges including low and unstable incomes, limited access to credit, training, insurance, technology and formal land records. In sustainability and traceability programmes, companies may need to support smallholders with farm mapping, data collection, certification and improved agricultural practices. Their inclusion is important because complex compliance requirements can otherwise create costs or barriers that exclude smaller producers from international markets.