Farmers organizations (FOs) under the AFOSP-APFP platform participated in the recent events conducted by the Asian Farmers’ Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA) and its partner organizations in support of the UN Decade of Family Farming (UNDFF). The virtual events aimed at strengthening efforts to empower family farmers as well as highlight the important role of family farmers in achieving food security.
Sustaining Family Farming in Asia-Pacific through inclusive, farmer-driven approaches
One hundred eighty (180) participants including members of farmers organizations, CSOs, and representatives of development partners, from 12 countries in the Asia-Pacific region participated in the regional virtual forum titled “Sustaining Family Farming in Asia-Pacific through inclusive, farmer-driven approaches” held on 6-7 October 2020. The forum aimed to promote and strengthen multi-actor partnerships that contribute to positive policy changes in family farming in line with UNDFF.
The two-day event provided a platform for smallholder farmers in the region to put forward the challenges they are facing including limited access to land, farm inputs, and the market as well as aging farmers, etc., and made it known to the other stakeholders present.
“Kung mabibigyan lang sana ng suporta at pagkakataong makapag-ari ng lupa, mas marami pa kaming kayang gawin, at mas marami pa kaming maiaambag sa mga napapanahong isyu na kinakaharap ng buong mundo gaya ng food security at climate change (If only all farmers are given a chance to own a land and be provided with enough support, for sure we can do better and contribute a lot more to help the nation resolve issues such as food security and climate change),” says Ofelia dela Cruz, a farmer leader from the Philippines whose FO is supported by AR Now!.
Aside from raising awareness on the current situation of family farmers in the Asia-Pacific region, the event also served as a platform for family farmers to share their viable practices with regards to family farming through a multi-stakeholder approach. This was done through interactive sessions among the participants and resource persons/speakers from various development partners.
In his remarks, Nigel Brett, IFAD’s Asia and the Pacific Region director, affirmed the commitment of IFAD and appealed to other stakeholders and partners to strengthen the collaboration in each country and to mobilize all the possible resources to support the Governments in the task of implementing the UNDFF action plan.
“It is in the interest of the rural poor. It is in the interest of the farmers organizations… Let us work together to achieve this 2030 SDG and this, despite the current COVID 19. Let us join our effort to succeed, for us but also for the future generation,” he says.
The event was also able to gather different perspectives from various institutions that resulted in a joint communique that states the participant’s commitments, plans, concrete actions, and ways forward with regards to policy priorities, strengthening multi-stakeholder platforms, and the progress of the UNDFF implementation at the country and regional level. Read the joint communique here.
“The results of our discussion can well feed into global processes,” says Than Swe, AFA Chairperson. “When stakeholders together promote and support the rights and roles of family farmers, we will accelerate the achievement of the SDGs and we will be able to contribute to building back better–towards a more sustainable, inclusive, just, resilient, empowering food systems that puts family farmers at the center and as equal partners.”
This forum was organized by AFA, People’s Campaign for Agrarian Reform Network (AR Now!), and International Land Coalition Asia (ILC-Asia) with the support of Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), and the International Fund For Agricultural Development (IFAD).
Regional Consultation Meeting on UN Decade of Family Farming: Formulating Strategies and Action Plan to Strengthen Smallholder Family Farmers in South Asia
On 5-6 November 2020, the South Asia regional consultation meeting on the UN Decade of Family Farming titled “Formulating Strategies and Action Plan to Strengthen Smallholder Family Farmers in South Asia” gathered 90 participants from the region as well as outside the region, who brainstormed and exchanged ideas on how to strengthen smallholder family farmers in South Asia.
The virtual event aimed to formulate a Regional Action Plan that defines the key priorities, strategies, and actions to implement the UNDFF to strengthen family farmers in South Asia and improve their wellbeing in the next 10 years.
The two-day event resulted in a joint communique that presents the commitments of participants from institutions such as those from the government, NGOs, farmers’ organizations, cooperatives, and other organizations in pursuing priority policies, actions, studies, and researches at the national and regional level.
The consultation meeting was organized by the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), AFA, and the International Cooperative Alliance Asia and Pacific (ICA-AP) with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (FAO RAP).
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