Resilient Family Farm: Supporting agricultural development and rural economic growth

The Resilient Family Farm is an interdisciplinary primer written for those who are involved in or who support rural development. Part I highlights the economic and ecological realities of the small family farm, while Part II examines the role of the development organization in supporting farm families who cope with these economic and environmental realities. In simple, straightforward language with photographs and illustrations, The Resilient Family Farm includes examples of development successes and failures, shares observations and lessons from the field, clarifies the challenges and realities of rural development work and provides guidance for donors and practitioners who understand that the rich inter-connectedness and complexities of smallholder farm life demand complete, rather than partial, responses and support. This is a clearly written, well illustrated, interdisciplinary book and makes an excellent practical primer, ideal for those going into the field for the first time. Gaye Burpee is Director of the Technical Services Unit at Catholic Relief Services. Kim Wilson is Senior Advisor for Microfinance, South Asia region, of Catholic Relief Services

Gaye Burpee is Director of the Technical Services Unit at Catholic Relief Services.

Kim Wilson is a lecturer at The Fletcher School and a Fellow with the Center for Emerging Market Enterprises and the Feinstein International Center at Tufts University. Spending time in India beginning in 2001 through 2005, Professor Wilson worked closely with savings groups, connecting them to banks with a particular focus on tribal areas. She has worked for Catholic Relief Services heading their Microfinance Unit, and in that tenure, spearheaded CRS' shift from focusing on credit to the poor to savings of the poor. Professor Wilson has consulted for many international agencies in savings and credit. Previously, she was in the private sector, occupying senior management positions in finance and franchising.