International Year of Family Farming Hanoi, March 10 th -11 th 2012 José Antonio Osaba

Index World Rural Forum. Family Farming. Threats and Challenges. A international Year of Family Farming. The way to What to do in Asia?

World Rural Forum A Development Association that works as a network in the four continents. It is formed by farmers’ and rural associations, NGOs, research institutes and individuals. (96 members) In Asia: AFA, AsiaDHRRA, CIFA, PANI, PhilDHRRA, RDF and SORKORPOR Our common commitment is the achievement of a worldwide sustainable and equitable development, especially in the field of rural development. Main activities: Compilation of information about the evolution of Agriculture and above all Family Farming. Monitoring of the negotiating processes concerning world agricultural trade (EPAs, FTAs, WTO, etc). Advocacy and lobbying regarding the interests of the rural world, both in countries of the South and the North. Networking. Participation in other networks.

Family Farming. A productive unit where the family members are involved directly in the production processes. The basis of food security and food sovereignty, of environmental management and of the preservation of the socio-cultural heritage of rural communities and nations. SOME FACTS: 1, 5 billion of women and men farmers, often small-holders, work on 404 million small scale farms of less than 2 hectares. Between 100 and 200M are pastoralists, 100M are small-scale fishers and 370 million belonging to indigenous communities. The women and men engaged in family farming produce 70% of the world’s food.

Threats and Challenges AT INTERNATIONAL LEVEL FF is severely affected by the interconnected crises of food, financial, fuel and climate change. The current dominant economic model and many policies of governments, inter- governmental organizations and international financial institutions neglect or even disadvantage Family Farming. AT PRODUCTION LEVEL Limited access to land, capital and technological resources. Land Grabbing. Poor access and control over markets and market information. Weak bargaining power. Lack of recognition of women farmers role. Lack of interest of youth in involving in agriculture, (stay in the field).

International Year of Family Farming December 22nd 2011, at 4.55 pm, New York time, the UN General Assembly declared 2014 the International Year of Family Farming-IYFF. A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO: Ensure family farmers’ access and control over natural resources, mainly land, water, forests and seeds. Promote sustainable, agro –ecological approaches by and with family farmers. Ensure access and increased market power of family farmers. Promote women empowerment and gender equality. Strengthen organizations of family farmers. Promote agriculture among the youth.

The way to Strengthen family farmers’ organizations 2.Access to local and regional markets 3.Access to, sustainable use and conservation of natural resources 4.Access to financial resources and protection against risks 5.Appropriate, applied and accessible technology and research, including local knowledge 6.Gender equity in agrarian policies 7.Agrarian policies for young farmers

Strengthen family farmers’ organizations Recognition and advocacy Political and economic autonomy Internal democracy Institutional dialogue (FOs – Ministries). Awareness raising among public administration. Lobby for the right to association. Platforms of FOs. Exchange of experience between FOs. Training on management and price negotiation. Income generating activities. Equitable participation of all social sectors (women, indigenous, …). Training on internal democracy, participation. Transparency mechanisms.

Strengthen family farmers’ organizations Access to local and regional markets Recognition and advocacy Political and economic autonomy Internal democracy Institutional dialogue (FOs – Ministries). Awareness raising among public administration. Lobby for the right to association. Platforms of FOs. Exchange of experience between FOs. Training on management and price negotiation. Income generating activities. Equitable participation of all social sectors (women, indigenous, …). Training on internal democracy, participation. Transparency mechanisms. Local production and consumption Linkage to markets Information systems for prices. Access to local markets. Cooperation between farmers along the value chain. Training in management skills. Demand public infrastructure. Improvement and innovation in product quality. Mechanisms for recognition of products (participatory). Exchange of good practices. Policies to protect local production and consumption. Promote local consumption, visibilize contribution of women farmers. Public procurement of local products. Conservation of local culinary heritage. Direct connection between consumers and producers. Strengthen urban, periurban agriculture. Exchange of good practices.

Access to, sustainable use and conservation of natural resources Right to access, use and own natural resourcesBest practices Right to use and/or own land, forests, pastures and the sea. Equitable access to land (women, young farmers). Stop land grabbing. Legal framework for universal access to water, including agricultural needs. Access to local, traditional seeds of quality. Recovery of local biodiversity. Decentralized supply of (renewable) energy, including agricultural use. Compilation and dissemination of best (ancient and innovative) practices. Decentralized, sustainable irrigation infrastructures and energy supply. Leagl framework for protected areas. Training on agro-ecology. Development of strategies to strengthen resilience for climate change (training, joint response strategies for communities). Reduce food waste.

Access to, sustainable use and conservation of natural resources Access to financial resources and protection against risks Right to access, use and own natural resourcesBest practices Right to use and/or own land, forests, pastures and the sea. Equitable access to land (women, young farmers). Stop land grabbing. Legal framework for universal access to water, including agricultural needs. Access to local, traditional seeds of quality. Recovery of local biodiversity. Decentralized supply of (renewable) energy, including agricultural use. Compilation and dissemination of best (ancient and innovative) practices. Decentralized, sustainable irrigation infrastructures and energy supply. Leagl framework for protected areas. Training on agro-ecology. Development of strategies to strengthen resilience for climate change (training, joint response strategies for communities). Reduce food waste. Early warning systems (economic, natural ) Mechanisms to cover risks Specific funding Decentralized meteorological measurement, warning systems. Inclusion in media coverage, ICTs. Training on detection and interpretation of risks. Protocols of joint reaction. Monitoring system for markets (macro, micro). Public insurance systems. Diversification of crops and economic activities. Solidarity funds. Public funds for disaster compensation. Soft loans for FOs, also within the FOs. Training on credit management. Specific IFAD, WB funds. Claim fulfilment of existing commitments.

Gender equity in agrarian policies Reduction of gender discrimination in the sector Gender disaggregated data. Revision of agricultural legal framework for discrimination. Gender budgets for rural women and female farmers. Gender mainstreaming in public administration. Promote labour of women’s rights organizations. Policies to reconcile work and family life (for both men and women). Awareness raising on co-responsibility. Bring education closer to rural women.

Agrarian policies for young farmers Gender equity in agrarian policies Reduction of gender discrimination in the sector Gender disaggregated data. Revision of agricultural legal framework for discrimination. Gender budgets for rural women and female farmers. Gender mainstreaming in public administration. Promote labour of women’s rights organizations. Policies to reconcile work and family life (for both men and women). Awareness raising on co-responsibility. Bring education closer to rural women. Settlement in rural areasGenerational renewal Specific programs to promote incorporation of young persons into the rural areas. Promote entrepreneurship. Awareness raising on the value of farming. Development of services in rural areas. Jo creation in the value chain and services in rural areas. Transfer of ownership. Possibilities to retire. Exchange good practices in generational renewal.

Appropriate, applied and accessible technology and research, including local knowledge Access to appropriate technology Use of appropriate technology Visibilization of the need of farmers for applied research. Multi-stakeholder forums (farmers and researchers). Promotion of centres for applied agricultural research. Promotion of research on technology adapted to the needs of women farmers. Recovery and innovation of traditional technologies. Knowledge banks. Promotion of local extension services. Training programs on the use and maintenance of adapted technology. Pilot programs with permanent technical assistance.

Appropriate, applied and accessible technology and research, including local knowledge Visibility of the importance of family farming Access to appropriate technology Use of appropriate technology Visibilization of the need of farmers for applied research. Multi-stakeholder forums (farmers and researchers). Promotion of centres for applied agricultural research. Promotion of research on technology adapted to the needs of women farmers. Recovery and innovation of traditional technologies. Knowledge banks. Promotion of local extension services. Training programs on the use and maintenance of adapted technology. Pilot programs with permanent technical assistance. Self-esteem of family farmersSocial recognition of family farming Recognition inside the FOs of the role of farmers (women, young, indigenous). Media campaign to raise awareness of importance of family farming. Dissemination of successful projects (participatory, leisure). Events related to family farming (fairs, exhibitions, …).

What to do in Asia?