The Pacific Island Farmers Organisation Network (PIFON) signed a historic Declaration of Commitment (DOC) with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) related to the engagement with farmer organizations in the region. The declaration was made official during a signing ceremony on 21 November 2016, by Afamasaga Toleafoa, PIFON Chairman and Ronald Hartman, IFAD Pacific Country Director and witnessed by approximately 30 participants from around the region.
“This is the first official declaration of this type between IFAD and farmer organisations anywhere in the world and we are very proud to have established this partnership which will allow for greater impacts of our programs down to the small-holder farmers of the Pacific” said Mr. Hartman.
The DOC represents an agreement between the two organisations on the important role of Farmer Organisations in agricultural development in the region. Specifically, the DOC is intended to:
- Enhance relationships between PIFON and IFAD related activities
- Increase the opportunity for both parties to complement each other’s programs
- Establish better network and linkages between IFAD and PIFON members
- Develop policies, strategies and/or programs that will allow mutual benefits to its members.
PIFON and IFAD Pacific agree that a relationship between the two organisations provides many opportunities to bring the voice of farmers in the region to policy makers and planners and that both parties will continue to explore opportunities to capitalize on this relationship such as the IFAD Farmers Forum. PIFON is the sub-regional implementing agency for the IFAD/SDC funded Medium Term Cooperation Program for Farmer Organisations in Asia and the Pacific— Phase II (MTCP II), which runs through until 2018.
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