1. Linking A snapshot of challenges & opportunities for food security & sovereignty in West Africa Meredith Kushnir, REAP-Canada, Presentation for Dig In! Campus Agriculture at UofT, February 14, 2012

2. Helping rural communities in Canada and developing countries meet the challenges of ecologically sound production of food, fibre and fuel since 1986 REAP-Canada

4. Agriculture Sector Context... More than 75% of active population are engaged in agriculture; Agriculture accounts for 30% GDP in Gambia and 17% GDP in Senegal Exports < Imports = Net food importing countries Unsustainable agricultural practices & policy (geared towards cash crops) Hungry Season – where many farmers experience food shortages for 2-4 months =UNSUSTAINABLE

5. Food Insecurity Common Socio-economic challenges in rural areas of the Gambia & Senegal Limited education Lack of financial resources Limited access to land Chronic malnutrition Gender inequality Lack of sustainable resource management

6. Low soil fertility Severe erosion & loss of soil organic matter Desertificatio n Salinization Vulnerability to climate change REDUCED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY Common Agricultural Challenges in the Gambia & Senegal Monoculture farming Overgrazing by livestock Drought and low rainfall Extreme weather Deforestation Crop residues removed

7. Global Factors (global markets, trade policies, economies etc…) National Factors (policies affecting, rural extension, access to goods) Community Level factors (access to land, resource availability (i.e. water, soils, seeds) Household factors (

8. Agro-Ecological Village Approach An interdependent community of individual households that are largely self-reliant through the creation of ecological food, fiber & energy systems Common Objectives 1. Self-Sufficient, integrated community 2. Poverty reduction & sustainable livelihoods 3. Protect/enhance natural and social capital

9. Self-sufficiency for rural villages Conventional Agriculture Agro-Ecological Village Approach

10. The Agro-Ecological Village Developing the Social, Ecological and Technological infrastructure of communities

11. Movement towards Food Sovereignty in West Africa Push towards the Alliance for a new Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) / Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Bamako Declaration 2007 on food sovereignty Support the use of traditional seeds and animal breeds for food sovereignty Stop the privatization of seeds and biopiracy Ban GMOs on the lands of Africa Support farmer exchanges and innovations ECOWAP - 2008 Regional Agricultural Policy – ensuring: Food security for people in the region Reducing food dependence and achieving food sovereignty; Involving producers in markets; Creating jobs with guaranteed incomes in order to improve living conditions and services in rural areas; Intensifying production systems in a sustainable manner; Reducing the vulnerability of West African economies by limiting factors of instability and regional insecurity; Adopting appropriate funding mechanisms. ROPPA / Peoples Coalition on Food Sovereignty

12. Farmer Service Organizations In Senegal, the CLCOP (cadre local de concertation des organizations de producteur) promotes the interests of small producers and facilitates their access to technical and financial support for agriculture. FSOs can support farmer communities in: -Agricultural production - Input supply & sharing (i.e. seeds, fertilizers; technologies), locally-sourced technical advice; enhanced production volume through collective action -Financing / Marketing: Enhanced capacity to access markets & demand good prices; joint venture to enable higher returns on products; credit & saving schemes. -Information / Knowledge Services: peer-peer farming learning / trade fairs -Research / Innovations: opportunity to support farmer-led research / sharing of innovations -Advocacy: strengthened capacity to articulate local needs to potential service producers.

13. Thank you! Jire jeff!