CSO Statement to the 32ND FAO ASIA PACIFIC REGIONAL CONFERENCE
CSO
Statement to the 32ND FAO ASIA PACIFIC REGIONAL CONFERENCE
Statement to the 32ND FAO ASIA PACIFIC REGIONAL CONFERENCE
10-15
March 2014-03-13
March 2014-03-13
Ulaanbaatar,
Mongolia
Mongolia
.
First of all, we would
like to table here our deepest sadness that one of our CSO colleague and an
international activist Ms Chandrika Sharma from India was on Malaysian Airlines
flight MH370 that is still missing until today. She was to attend this
conference. The whole CSO community offers our prayers for her safety.
like to table here our deepest sadness that one of our CSO colleague and an
international activist Ms Chandrika Sharma from India was on Malaysian Airlines
flight MH370 that is still missing until today. She was to attend this
conference. The whole CSO community offers our prayers for her safety.
We, 38 representatives of small farmers, landless, rural women, fishers,
agricultural workers, forest dwellers, pastoralists and herders, indigenous
peoples, urban poor, consumers, youth and NGOs coming from ten (10) countries met from March 8 to 9, 2014 in
conjunction to the 32nd FAO Asia Pacific Regional Conference in
Mongolia.
agricultural workers, forest dwellers, pastoralists and herders, indigenous
peoples, urban poor, consumers, youth and NGOs coming from ten (10) countries met from March 8 to 9, 2014 in
conjunction to the 32nd FAO Asia Pacific Regional Conference in
Mongolia.
We are confronted with
intensifying economic, social and environmental crises in this region. Neoliberal policies of trade liberalisation,
privatisation and deregulation facilitated by international trade and financial
institutions have benefited transnational corporations and the elites of our
countries. It has reduced the capacities
of countries and peoples to ensure self-sufficient food production and right to
food for everyone. It has worsened
hunger, poverty, malnutrition, and contributed to the displacement, landlessness, loss of
livelihood and income, and curtailment of rights of small food producers[1] and consumers.
intensifying economic, social and environmental crises in this region. Neoliberal policies of trade liberalisation,
privatisation and deregulation facilitated by international trade and financial
institutions have benefited transnational corporations and the elites of our
countries. It has reduced the capacities
of countries and peoples to ensure self-sufficient food production and right to
food for everyone. It has worsened
hunger, poverty, malnutrition, and contributed to the displacement, landlessness, loss of
livelihood and income, and curtailment of rights of small food producers[1] and consumers.
Small farmers are
victims of landlessness, displacement due to land grabbing, expansion of larger
plantations and so-called development projects such as mining and dams, crop
and land use conversion, high cost of inputs, and non-implementation of genuine
land reform.
victims of landlessness, displacement due to land grabbing, expansion of larger
plantations and so-called development projects such as mining and dams, crop
and land use conversion, high cost of inputs, and non-implementation of genuine
land reform.
As agricultural
workers, we are faced with low wages, job insecurity including
contractualisation, flexibilisation, and poor and hazardous working condition
and lack of social security and benefits.
workers, we are faced with low wages, job insecurity including
contractualisation, flexibilisation, and poor and hazardous working condition
and lack of social security and benefits.
As indigenous
peoples, our rights to own, control and manage ancestral territories critical
to our livelihood and survival are still not been recognised. There is also
lack of respect and recognition of customary practices, laws, roles and
contribution in sustainable agriculture and biodiversity managements systems.
peoples, our rights to own, control and manage ancestral territories critical
to our livelihood and survival are still not been recognised. There is also
lack of respect and recognition of customary practices, laws, roles and
contribution in sustainable agriculture and biodiversity managements systems.
Many fishers and fish
workers including women are being marginalised due to the expanding corporate
and commercial fisheries and intensified aquaculture. Their tenure rights to land and access to
fisheries resources in the coastal and waterfront area have been ignored. The health of aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity
is not protected and there is also a lack of support for processing and
marketing for fishers.
workers including women are being marginalised due to the expanding corporate
and commercial fisheries and intensified aquaculture. Their tenure rights to land and access to
fisheries resources in the coastal and waterfront area have been ignored. The health of aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity
is not protected and there is also a lack of support for processing and
marketing for fishers.
The rights of
pastoralists are not recognised, exacerbated by the lack of political,
economic, and socio-cultural mechanisms and processes to protect those rights.
Pasture and common land is being taken away from them in the name of so-called
‘development’.
pastoralists are not recognised, exacerbated by the lack of political,
economic, and socio-cultural mechanisms and processes to protect those rights.
Pasture and common land is being taken away from them in the name of so-called
‘development’.
Because of depressed wages and unemployment, the urban poor
suffer from lack of accessible, safe, nutritious and
affordable food, without access to basic social services, apart from squalid
conditions in slums and informal settlements that affect their health and
wellbeing.
suffer from lack of accessible, safe, nutritious and
affordable food, without access to basic social services, apart from squalid
conditions in slums and informal settlements that affect their health and
wellbeing.
Due to lack of jobs
and livelihood and displacement from their lands, a significant number of rural and urban population, most especially the
youth, are forced to migrate in cities and abroad contributing to the decline
on the youth involvement in agricultural production.
and livelihood and displacement from their lands, a significant number of rural and urban population, most especially the
youth, are forced to migrate in cities and abroad contributing to the decline
on the youth involvement in agricultural production.
Rural women, particularly, remain
invisible, undervalued and unrecognised despite their being seed savers, land tillers, community leaders and family managers. In addition, gender
inequalities continue to exist in terms of access and control over resources,
training, agricultural inputs, among others.
invisible, undervalued and unrecognised despite their being seed savers, land tillers, community leaders and family managers. In addition, gender
inequalities continue to exist in terms of access and control over resources,
training, agricultural inputs, among others.
We recognise FAO’s
efforts in promoting family farms in the midst of hunger, the need for
sustainable production and recognition of rights of women. Violence against
women and their discrimination in families and communities has to end. Family
farming should not be seen as promoting landlordism, but should be done to
serve the community and undertaken in a collective manner.
efforts in promoting family farms in the midst of hunger, the need for
sustainable production and recognition of rights of women. Violence against
women and their discrimination in families and communities has to end. Family
farming should not be seen as promoting landlordism, but should be done to
serve the community and undertaken in a collective manner.
Our Recommendations
Food sovereignty is the key to food security
and eradication of hunger and poverty. It recognises and upholds the rights of
peoples to decide their own food and agricultural policies and the right to
develop ecologically, socially, economically and culturally appropriate food
systems.
and eradication of hunger and poverty. It recognises and upholds the rights of
peoples to decide their own food and agricultural policies and the right to
develop ecologically, socially, economically and culturally appropriate food
systems.
We,
the CSO community, calls our Governments to:
the CSO community, calls our Governments to:
1.
Implement genuine agrarian, aquatic, forestry
and pastureland reform that incorporates the right to resources including
water, seeds, and the protection of ancestral domains and territories for the
small food producers. We also call for
women’s equal rights to resources.
Implement genuine agrarian, aquatic, forestry
and pastureland reform that incorporates the right to resources including
water, seeds, and the protection of ancestral domains and territories for the
small food producers. We also call for
women’s equal rights to resources.
2.
Enact and
implement laws and regulations that incorporate the principle of Free Prior
Informed Consent (FPIC) and its monitoring system.
Enact and
implement laws and regulations that incorporate the principle of Free Prior
Informed Consent (FPIC) and its monitoring system.
3.
Promote and support agro-ecological,
integrated, diversified farming, fisheries and livestock that protect
traditional rights of peoples, local and indigenous knowledge and wisdom,
rights to genetic resources, ecosystem-based resource management; and the conservation
of local climate-tolerant varieties. These would also provide the basis of
communities’ resilience on climate change.
Promote and support agro-ecological,
integrated, diversified farming, fisheries and livestock that protect
traditional rights of peoples, local and indigenous knowledge and wisdom,
rights to genetic resources, ecosystem-based resource management; and the conservation
of local climate-tolerant varieties. These would also provide the basis of
communities’ resilience on climate change.
4.
Provide adequate public financing and
financial services; facilitiate farmer-led agricultural research and provide
extension services, appropriate technologies, trainings; develop local markets,
infrastructure and create jobs — all targeted to benefit small food producers,
particularly rural women, urban poor and youth.
Provide adequate public financing and
financial services; facilitiate farmer-led agricultural research and provide
extension services, appropriate technologies, trainings; develop local markets,
infrastructure and create jobs — all targeted to benefit small food producers,
particularly rural women, urban poor and youth.
5.
Stop the promotion of corporate technologies
such as genetically engineered seeds, highly hazardous pesticides, and agrofuel
plantations that feed corporate profits. These devastate the livelihoods of
small food producers, increase the risks to human health and environment and
undermine peoples’ right to safe and nutritious food.
Stop the promotion of corporate technologies
such as genetically engineered seeds, highly hazardous pesticides, and agrofuel
plantations that feed corporate profits. These devastate the livelihoods of
small food producers, increase the risks to human health and environment and
undermine peoples’ right to safe and nutritious food.
6.
Enact laws and mechanisms that provide
affordable and stable prices for staple and basic food products for the poor.
Enact laws and mechanisms that provide
affordable and stable prices for staple and basic food products for the poor.
7.
Help build capacities of small food producers to organise
themselves into farmers’ organisations or cooperatives to have economies of
scale and better bargaining power.
Help build capacities of small food producers to organise
themselves into farmers’ organisations or cooperatives to have economies of
scale and better bargaining power.
We call FAO to:
1 Ensure
meaningful participation of social movements and CSOs in the formulation,
implementation and monitoring of policies and guidelines such as the VG on land
tenure system and small-scale fisheries. Strengthen the engagement of CSOs with
national FAO offices in national policy formulation, strategic programmes and
monitor its progress.
meaningful participation of social movements and CSOs in the formulation,
implementation and monitoring of policies and guidelines such as the VG on land
tenure system and small-scale fisheries. Strengthen the engagement of CSOs with
national FAO offices in national policy formulation, strategic programmes and
monitor its progress.
2 Continue dialogue on the concept of family
farming considering different context and situation of small food producers;
establish national committees that are farmer-led; and to take action to
initiate policies and programmes that serve the small food producers and their
communities.
farming considering different context and situation of small food producers;
establish national committees that are farmer-led; and to take action to
initiate policies and programmes that serve the small food producers and their
communities.
3
Ensure that the RAI principles include the
central role of small food producers in food production and as primary
investors in agriculture. The RAI
principles should protect the rights of small food producers’ against massive
land and resource grabbing. It should be based on human rights, on the FPIC
principles, peoples’ right to development, and labour and migrants rights.
Ensure that the RAI principles include the
central role of small food producers in food production and as primary
investors in agriculture. The RAI
principles should protect the rights of small food producers’ against massive
land and resource grabbing. It should be based on human rights, on the FPIC
principles, peoples’ right to development, and labour and migrants rights.
4
In the rice key strategic options, we call
for the halt of dependence on external inputs such as genetically engineered
crops, hybrid rice and biofortification and instead focus on farmer-led
appropriate technologies to address safe, nutritious and balanced diet.
In the rice key strategic options, we call
for the halt of dependence on external inputs such as genetically engineered
crops, hybrid rice and biofortification and instead focus on farmer-led
appropriate technologies to address safe, nutritious and balanced diet.
5
Recognise that forest dwellers are food
producers and protectors of the forest and natural resources and support their
initiatives on climate change mitigation. Projects for forest restoration and
reforestation should be done in respect of forest dwellers and their future
generations.
Recognise that forest dwellers are food
producers and protectors of the forest and natural resources and support their
initiatives on climate change mitigation. Projects for forest restoration and
reforestation should be done in respect of forest dwellers and their future
generations.
6
Ensure participation of small-scale fishers
in monitoring and evaluating the impact of intensified aquaculture and ensure
that the program does not reduce the availability of resources to small fishing
communities.
Ensure participation of small-scale fishers
in monitoring and evaluating the impact of intensified aquaculture and ensure
that the program does not reduce the availability of resources to small fishing
communities.
Our
Commitment:
Commitment:
We, the civil society participants, are committed to working together
with FAO, our governments and other international institutions that are
accountable in meeting the needs of small food producers and their aspirations
for food sovereignty. We affirm our right to self organise and autonomy.
with FAO, our governments and other international institutions that are
accountable in meeting the needs of small food producers and their aspirations
for food sovereignty. We affirm our right to self organise and autonomy.
We appreciate this opportunity given to CSO’s to make our voices heard,
make critical positions and recommendations on food security and agricultural
development. However, concerns remain about our meaningful participation.
Meaningful participation must mean that our recommendations are considered and
included in APRC reports.
make critical positions and recommendations on food security and agricultural
development. However, concerns remain about our meaningful participation.
Meaningful participation must mean that our recommendations are considered and
included in APRC reports.
We will resist any positions, policies and programmes that undermine the
rights of small food producers. We will
strengthen our movements of small food producers to advance food sovereignty
and gender justice.
rights of small food producers. We will
strengthen our movements of small food producers to advance food sovereignty
and gender justice.
Thank you Chair for giving us this opportunity.
Civil Society Organisations:
Adra Mongolia
All Nepal Women’s Association (ANWA)
Asia Indigenous People’s Pact (AIPP)
Asian Farmers’ Association for Sustainable Rural
Development (AFA)
Development (AFA)
Asia Food Security
Network (AFSN)
Network (AFSN)
Asian
Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Asia (AsiaDHRRA)
Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Asia (AsiaDHRRA)
Asian Peasant Coalition (APC)
Asian Rural Women’s Coalition (ARWC)
Association of Agricultural Cooperative in Dornogobi
province (NAMAC)
province (NAMAC)
Association of Agricultural Cooperatives of Darkhan-Uul
province
province
Association of Agricultural Cooperatives of Orkhon
province
province
“Buyan-Undral” Agricultural Cooperative of Darvi soum,
Gobi-Altai province
Gobi-Altai province
Central Union of Consumer Cooperatives
Coalition of Agricultural Workers International (CAWI)
Consumers Korea (CK)
Environment and Development Association “JASIL”
Global Communities
International Collective in Support of Fish Workers
KADAMAY
La Via Campesina
MARAG
Mongolian Crop Farmers Association
Mongolian National Association of Sea buckthorn Producers
and Growers
and Growers
Mongolian National Cooperative Alliance
National Association of Mongolian Agricultural
Cooperatives (NAMAC)
Cooperatives (NAMAC)
National Fisheries Solidarity (NAFSO)
People’s Coalition on Food Sovereignty (PCFS)
People’s Coalition on Food Sovereignty (PCFS) – Mongolia
Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific (PAN AP)
Rural Investment Support Center
Sustainable Development Foundation (SDF)
[1] Small food
producers include small
farmers, landless, rural women, fishers,
agricultural workers, forest dwellers, indigenous peoples, pastoralists and herders.
producers include small
farmers, landless, rural women, fishers,
agricultural workers, forest dwellers, indigenous peoples, pastoralists and herders.
