International Year of Family Farming

Hanoi, March 10th-11th 2012

José Antonio Osaba

 Index
• World Rural Forum.
• Family Farming.
• Threats and Challenges.
• A international Year of Family Farming.
• The way to 2014.
• 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 2014
1. 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

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.

Access to local and regional markets

Linkage to markets Local production and consumption

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 resources Best 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

Right to access, use and own natural resources Best practices

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

Access to financial resources and protection against risks

Early warning systems

Mechanisms to cover risks Specific funding
(economic, natural)
Public insurance systems. Public funds for disaster
Decentralized meteorological Diversification of crops and compensation.
measurement, warning systems. economic activities. Soft loans for FOs, also within
Inclusion in media coverage, ICTs. Solidarity funds. the FOs.
Training on detection and Training on credit
interpretation of risks. management.
Protocols of joint reaction. Specific IFAD, WB funds.
Monitoring system for markets (macro, Claim fulfilment of existing
micro). 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.
 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

Settlement in rural areas Generational renewal

Specific programs to promote Transfer of ownership.
incorporation of young persons Possibilities to retire.
into the rural areas. Exchange good practices in
Promote entrepreneurship. generational renewal.
Awareness raising on the value of
farming.
Development of services in rural
areas.
Jo creation in the value chain and
services in rural areas.
 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 Promotion of local extension services.
research. Training programs on the use and maintenance of
Multi-stakeholder forums (farmers and adapted technology.
researchers). Pilot programs with permanent technical
Promotion of centres for applied agricultural assistance.
research.
Promotion of research on technology adapted to
the needs of women farmers.
Recovery and innovation of traditional
technologies.
Knowledge banks.
 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 Promotion of local extension services.
research. Training programs on the use and maintenance of
Multi-stakeholder forums (farmers and adapted technology.
researchers). Pilot programs with permanent technical
Promotion of centres for applied agricultural assistance.
research.
Promotion of research on technology adapted to
the needs of women farmers.
Recovery and innovation of traditional
technologies.
Knowledge banks.

Visibility of the importance of family farming

Self-esteem of family farmers Social 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?