Policy Instruments Addressing Existing Farms Regional Facilitation Office (RFO), FAO

Question What approaches and policy instruments can be implemented to effectively and efficiently reduce environmental impacts on existing farms?

Path 1: Environmental legislation does exist Review of the policies in light of international standards and conventions Partners / institutions involved Compliance Non compliance

Review of the policies Adjustments and updating Regulatory approaches: command and control on the emissions into the air, water and soil Economic instruments: subsidies, levies, taxes Technology support Capacity building Awareness raising Institution development / privatization Infrastructure development

Review of the policies Level of compliance and enforcement Monitoring, enforcement, institution capacity Financial / economic incentives Social incentives Awareness of farmers and consumers

Partners / institutions involved Government agencies Academic agencies Farmers Consumers

Compliance What are the reasons for non-compliance? lack of enforcement: lack of technical capacity (staff, equipment, expertise) lack of technical knowledge on the side of producers regulations not communicated

Non compliance Review of magnitude of the problem Review of the responsible agencies and their possibility of intervention Strengthen agencies – issue of privatization/licensing Provide grace and bridging period for farmers to reach compliance Evaluate public sector support and subsidies

Non compliance Review of magnitude of the problems Financial problems Institutional problems Social problems Other problems (i.e., political problems)

Non compliance Review of the responsible agencies and their possibility of intervention Review capacity of the government agencies Center for assisting the farmers to comply to the environmental policy (PCD, Thailand) Capacity of academic agencies in knowledge management in distribution Problems of the farmers to comply with laws Environmental awareness of the consumers

Non compliance Strengthen agencies – issue of privatization / licensing Capacity building (training of the trainers) Financial support Social incentives

Non compliance Provide grace and bridging period for farmers to reach compliance Small, medium, large farms Backyard, peri-urban, industrialized farming

Non compliance Evaluate public sector support and subsidies Information provided Cooperation among the officials Financial support Subsidies (negative or positive effects)

Path 2: No environmental legislation Assess magnitude of the problems Identify institutions and partners public and private sector Develop legislation and standards Time frame of implementation Check on alternatives i.e. spatial planning Target time of compliance Control and enforcement public and private Public support to meet standards

Path 2: No environmental legislation all three countries have legislation but certain regulations may be missing participatory approach in devicing/updating regulations consider training requirements consider phasing and scaling of new regulations consider costs and required enforcement capacity

Questions for the working groups Are there specific instruments addressing new/existing farms in the countries? [note: if not then all instruments apply to all farms] What is the estimated turnover of farms in the countries, i.e. what is the estimated share of the production that comes from farms that have been built over the last 2 years? Is this trend going to change in the near future? Are current regulations enforceable on existing farms? [note: For example, Thai discharge standards are unenforceable on many farms as they would just put them out of business] If yes: what can be done to ease enforcement? targeting farms in most sensitive areas phasing enforcement, e.g. enforce standards gradually training and awareness raising financial incentives for early adopters If no: what are the options to be considered? progressively close farms that can’t comply and provide exit strategies limit intervention to training and awareness raising adapt regulation