Planning for New Zealand's recognition of the 2014 United Nations International Year of Family Farming (IYFF) is under way and many industry groups are involved.
Steering group convener Brendan Hoare, Auckland, who is the Oceania representative on the IYFF 2014 world consultative committee, has been working on the project for two years.
He said the year was designed to draw attention to global issues affecting farmers as well as highlighting the importance and value of family farming to New Zealand and its connectivity to the rest of the world.
''It is not just about agriculture. It is about farm workers, fishers, foresters, viticulture, horticulture and a positive way of life,'' Mr Hoare said.
''Farming is a great way to raise children, a good way to be in business and a good way to look after the environment.''
He said the year was a recognition that most of the poor in the world were living rurally, and that most affected were women and children, in particular girls, issues the United Nations was aware of.
Farming families in many countries also faced land grabbing from corporates, and food sovereignty, land rights and self-determination issues. The year's objectives included
''support of the development of policies conducive to sustainable family farming; increasing knowledge, communication and public awareness on family farming; gaining a better understanding of family farming needs, potential and constraints; and ensuring technical support availability and creating synergies for sustainability'', he said.
Representatives from the groups, including DairyNZ and Rural Women New Zealand, met recently to consider the projects and activities they could undertake to raise the profile of farming families in New Zealand.
The year will be overseen by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Possible projects included focusing on education, science, quality assurance, information sharing, celebration events, lobbying, and programmes to support to improved health, wellbeing and financial security. Mr Hoare said many issues affecting overseas farming families were also relevant to New Zealand rural families.
These included succession issues, indebtedness and rural and urban tension, the environment and biodiversity. He said it was important for those in the primary industries to act together.
''About 20% of dairy farmers have levels of indebtedness which are at a critical level and that is not good for them or their families, nor for New Zealand, at that level. We also need to have discussions around brand New Zealand and interconnectiveness with international farmers and markets.''