Small-scale agricultural or forest products producers that are distinct from larger-scale producers found in similar contexts by virtue of many or all of the following characteristics:

• high degree of dependence on family labour
• profits accrue primarily to the farm’s or forest’s owner(s) and their family
• the farm or forest provides a primary source of livelihood for the smallholder
• production units have a relatively small land footprint (relative to the range of production unit sizes for the given commodity and region)
• household resources are allocated to both food crops and cash crops
• relatively low use of agricultural inputs and generally low productivity and yields
• significant economic constraints, such as lack of capital assets and low access to finance
• significant information constraints, including lack of technical knowledge and low access to market information

Consistent with the criteria and parameters outlined in the above definition, numerous governments, international agencies, policies, and sector initiatives provide more specific and quantitative definitions of smallholders, which may differ depending on location, land use type, and commodity. Where companies participate in certification programmes, sector programmes, or jurisdictional initiatives that define smallholder production, they may adopt those definitions when they appropriately reflect the above characteristics as relevant in the given context.