CONTRIBUTION OF FAMILY FARMING TO THE ECONOMY OF THE FUNDA COMMUNITY, LUANDA: AN EMPIRICAL AND LEGAL-INSTITUTIONAL ANALYSIS

Resumen

 Family farming is an important economic, social and food-related activity in the Funda community, Luanda, but its potential is constrained by limitations in finance, technical assistance, productive organization, infrastructure and marketing. This article analyzes the contribution of family farming to the local economy by combining empirical evidence from the author's doctoral research with a legal-institutional perspective. The study adopted a qualitative, exploratory and descriptive approach supported by descriptive statistics. It considered 250 participants, including 150 family farmers and 100 market vendors, using questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, direct observation and documentary analysis. The results show that 54% of farmers operate on individual land, 35% on community land and 11% under individual/community arrangements. For working materials, 42% rely on cooperatives, 38% on non-governmental organizations, 15% on informal markets and 5% on other sources. Cooperatives are considered important by 64% of farmers and are the main reported source of financing, at 63%. Informal markets are the main marketing channel, used by 61% of farmers, while 16% use formal markets. The study concludes that family farming effectively participates in the local economy through production, household consumption, marketing and cooperative organization. Strengthening cooperatives, credit, technical assistance, infrastructure and value addition can increase this contribution.