May Focus: Farming for People and Planet

May is a month of some very important global events that resonate deeply with the values and mission of The Agricultural Economist. From honoring the contributions of workers and nurses to celebrating the essential roles of families, bees, biodiversity, and cultural diversity, this month offers a unique opportunity to reflect on agriculture not just as an economic activity, but as a living system that sustains people and the planet.

At the heart of this edition is a recognition of agriculture as a multidimensional enterprise. Farming is not just about producing food; it is about nurturing ecosystems, supporting rural livelihoods, safeguarding biodiversity, and preserving cultural heritage. The theme, "Farming for People and Planet," encapsulates the need for inclusive, sustainable agricultural systems that empower communities, protect natural resources, and ensure that food security goes hand in hand with ecological and social wellbeing.

Celebrating Labor in Agriculture

On May 1, the world marks International Workers' Day, a celebration of labor and a reminder of the rights and dignity of all workers. In agriculture, labor remains a foundational pillar. Farmers, farmhands, harvesters, and agri-workers are the backbone of food systems, often working in difficult conditions with minimal recognition. As we celebrate labor this month, we must spotlight agricultural workers’ contributions and advocate for policies that ensure fair wages, safe working conditions, social protection, and access to training.

Globally, and particularly in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, smallholder farmers constitute most agricultural producers. Yet, they face disproportionate challenges, from climate shocks to market exclusion. Supporting agricultural labor means empowering these smallholders with land rights, access to credit, cooperative structures, and knowledge sharing. Labor dignity also means recognizing the unpaid labor of rural women and ensuring their inclusion in all aspects of agricultural development.

Honoring Care Workers and Agricultural Health

May 12, International Nurses Day, and May 8, World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day, honor the healthcare workforce and humanitarian responders. Their relevance to agriculture might not be immediately obvious, yet the intersection between health and agriculture is undeniable. Agricultural communities often suffer from limited access to health services, and the well-being of farmers is critical to food security. The rise of zoonotic diseases, occupational hazards, pesticide-related illnesses, and mental health challenges in farming communities further underline the need for integrated health-agriculture policies.

Agri-health interventions, mobile health clinics in rural areas, and occupational health safety standards for pesticide use and equipment handling are essential. Furthermore, building resilience against disasters, whether floods, droughts, or pandemics, requires strong linkages between agricultural resilience and public health infrastructure.

Supporting Rural Families: The Core of Agricultural Sustainability

The International Day of Families on May 15 is a moment to acknowledge the vital role families play in agricultural continuity. Family farms represent over 80% of all farms globally and are central to food production, intergenerational knowledge transfer, and sustainable land management. However, rural families face growing pressures from urban migration, lack of educational opportunities, land fragmentation, and economic vulnerability.

Sustaining family farming requires integrated rural development policies: investment in education, healthcare, rural infrastructure, and digital connectivity. It also demands reforms that support land inheritance for women and youth, mechanisms to reduce generational poverty, and initiatives that recognize unpaid household labor. Families are not just units of production but guardians of tradition, caretakers of biodiversity, and the social fabric of rural life.

Bees and Pollinators: Tiny Workers, Massive Impact

World Bee Day, observed on May 20, draws attention to the indispensable role of pollinators in agriculture. Bees, butterflies, birds, and bats play a crucial role in pollinating crops and maintaining biodiversity. Over 75% of global food crops depend at least in part on pollination. Yet, pollinator populations are in decline due to pesticide use, habitat destruction, monocultures, climate change, and disease.

The decline of pollinators is not just an environmental issue, it is a food security crisis in the making. Agroecological practices such as planting pollinator-friendly crops, reducing pesticide use, maintaining natural habitats, and integrating hedgerows and flower strips can help restore pollinator populations. Protecting these tiny agricultural laborers must be a priority for all farmers, policymakers, and consumers.

Biodiversity: The Backbone of Resilient Food Systems

May 22 is the International Day for Biological Diversity, a day that compels us to consider the ecological underpinnings of agriculture. Biodiversity in crops, livestock, soil organisms, and surrounding ecosystems is vital for climate resilience, pest management, nutritional diversity, and long-term productivity. Yet, agricultural biodiversity is under threat. Over 90% of crop varieties have been lost in the last century, and industrial monoculture has replaced diversified farming systems.

Reviving agrobiodiversity requires action on multiple fronts. Seed sovereignty for farmers, support for indigenous crops and livestock breeds, conservation of traditional farming knowledge, and incentives for crop diversification are all needed. Schools of agroecology, farmer seed networks, and biodiversity-friendly market certifications can play transformative roles.

Cultural Diversity in Agricultural Landscapes

On May 21, the World Day for Cultural Diversity reminds us that farming is not just about the environment or economics; it is also about culture. Agricultural practices are deeply embedded in local traditions, rituals, cuisines, and worldviews. From terraced rice fields in Asia to pastoralist herding in Africa, cultural diversity shapes land use, resource stewardship, and social organization.

Preserving cultural diversity in agriculture means supporting indigenous knowledge systems, celebrating food heritage, and protecting cultural landscapes. It also means ensuring the inclusion of marginalized ethnic groups in agricultural policies and extension services. Dialogue between diverse farming communities can foster mutual learning, conflict resolution, and social cohesion.

Toward a Just and Sustainable Agricultural Future

As we reflect on these observances, a common thread emerges: the need for an inclusive agricultural paradigm that recognizes human dignity, ecological integrity, and cultural richness. This calls for a rethinking of agricultural development, away from extractive models toward regenerative, participatory, and equitable systems.

Policymakers must recognize that agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability are not mutually exclusive. Incentives for agroecology, carbon farming, mixed cropping, and ecosystem services can make conservation compatible with profitability. Researchers must prioritize participatory methods that incorporate farmer knowledge and local contexts. Extension workers must move beyond top-down training to co-learning and community empowerment.

Financial institutions should tailor credit and insurance products to the realities of smallholders, especially women and indigenous farmers. Social movements and NGOs must continue to amplify the voices of those most affected by agricultural and environmental policies. Consumers, too, have a role to play, by supporting local producers, reducing food waste, and demanding sustainable food systems.

Technology, if directed wisely, can support this vision. Digital agriculture, remote sensing, climate forecasting, and mobile-based advisory services can help farmers adapt to changing conditions. But technology must be accessible, gender-sensitive, and grounded in real-life user needs.

Together, let us cultivate a future where food is not just a commodity, but a common good; where farming is not just work, but stewardship; and where agriculture serves not just economies, but humanity and the Earth alike.

Warm regards,

Muhammad Khalid Bashir

Managing Editor

The Agricultural Economist

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