Promote Sustainable , Organic Agriculture in ASEAN to Ensure Food Security and Reduce Poverty
Selasa, 03 Maret 2009
Press Release
March 1, 2009
Promote Sustainable , Organic Agriculture in ASEAN to Ensure Food Security and Reduce Poverty
As heads of state conclude the 15th ASEAN Summit today with declarations and agreements to help the region respond to the issues of the global financial crisis and food security , leaders of the Asian Farmers’ Association (AFA), an alliance of national farmers’ organizations with 10 million members in Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand, called on ASEAN to promote sustainable, ecological-friendly agriculture in the region..
“We are pleased to know that ASEAN has signed an ASEAN Integrated Food Security Framework. However, we want to place emphasis on the massive promotion of sustainable, integrated, diversified, organic agriculture (SA) to ensure food security. SA is the way to go if we want to ensure food security and reduce poverty among small scale farmers, fishers and indigenous peoples, “said Ms. Sudaporn Sittisathapornkul, Chairperson of AFA.
AFA farmer-leaders noted that last year, 400 scientists from all over the world produced a 2,500 page report called International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science, Technology and Development (IAASTD), signed by 60 countries including the World Bank. The report said that governments should refrain from the usual way of doing agiculture – chemical intensive and monocropping – and should promote sustainable agriculture.
“SA can actually feed the world, is economically viable, and at the same time are good adaptation to and mitigating measures of the effects of climate change to farmers. We ask ASEAN governments to direct investment, funding, research, programs, for sustainable, integrated, diversified, organic farming, ” she further elaborated.
“We recommend a review of this Framework, and ensure the participation of social movements of small scale men and women farmers, fishers and indigenous peoples,” said Ms. Sudaporn. “ We cal on ASEAN governments to conduct consultations in their countries and at the region level about this framework, and the plan of actions,” said Ms. Esther Penunia, secretary general of AFA.
AFA monitored the meetings of the 14th ASEAN Summit. Its secretary general, was one of the eight representatives of the civil society groups that met the ASEAN house of states in an informal meeting yesterday, February 28.
AFA also conducted a Regional Consultation on the Global Financial Meltdown and Regional Trade Agenda,”, conducted Feb 23-25, in Bangkok, Thailand. The consultation was attended by about 40 farmer-leaders, their translators and NGO support groups.
During this consultation, AFA also discussed how trade agreements being entered by ASEAN can benefit small scale men and women farmers. “With food surpluses being traded at local, national, regional and international markets, trade agreements that should be entered by ASEAN should a) preserve member state’s capacities to exempt sectors important to food security, livelihood security, rural development and poverty alleviation and ensure the benefit for smallholder producers; as well as b) provide sufficient safeguard measures and remedies", said Ms. Sudaporn.
“ Last but not the least, we ask ASEAN to ensure the participation of small scale rural producers in the policy formulation, implementation of these policies by consulting and involving their national and regional groups in policy formulation and decision-making processes,” she further stated.
Contact persons:
Esther Penunia, Secretary General, AFA.
afaesther@asianfarmers.org *639178138698
Sudaporn Sittisathapornkul, Chairperson, AFA,
sorkorporthai0yahoo,com 081 835 0928
Chaiwat Suravichai, Secretary General, Sor Kor Por
sorkorporthai@yahoo.com +6616467709
March 1, 2009
Promote Sustainable , Organic Agriculture in ASEAN to Ensure Food Security and Reduce Poverty
As heads of state conclude the 15th ASEAN Summit today with declarations and agreements to help the region respond to the issues of the global financial crisis and food security , leaders of the Asian Farmers’ Association (AFA), an alliance of national farmers’ organizations with 10 million members in Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand, called on ASEAN to promote sustainable, ecological-friendly agriculture in the region..
“We are pleased to know that ASEAN has signed an ASEAN Integrated Food Security Framework. However, we want to place emphasis on the massive promotion of sustainable, integrated, diversified, organic agriculture (SA) to ensure food security. SA is the way to go if we want to ensure food security and reduce poverty among small scale farmers, fishers and indigenous peoples, “said Ms. Sudaporn Sittisathapornkul, Chairperson of AFA.
AFA farmer-leaders noted that last year, 400 scientists from all over the world produced a 2,500 page report called International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science, Technology and Development (IAASTD), signed by 60 countries including the World Bank. The report said that governments should refrain from the usual way of doing agiculture – chemical intensive and monocropping – and should promote sustainable agriculture.
“SA can actually feed the world, is economically viable, and at the same time are good adaptation to and mitigating measures of the effects of climate change to farmers. We ask ASEAN governments to direct investment, funding, research, programs, for sustainable, integrated, diversified, organic farming, ” she further elaborated.
“We recommend a review of this Framework, and ensure the participation of social movements of small scale men and women farmers, fishers and indigenous peoples,” said Ms. Sudaporn. “ We cal on ASEAN governments to conduct consultations in their countries and at the region level about this framework, and the plan of actions,” said Ms. Esther Penunia, secretary general of AFA.
AFA monitored the meetings of the 14th ASEAN Summit. Its secretary general, was one of the eight representatives of the civil society groups that met the ASEAN house of states in an informal meeting yesterday, February 28.
AFA also conducted a Regional Consultation on the Global Financial Meltdown and Regional Trade Agenda,”, conducted Feb 23-25, in Bangkok, Thailand. The consultation was attended by about 40 farmer-leaders, their translators and NGO support groups.
During this consultation, AFA also discussed how trade agreements being entered by ASEAN can benefit small scale men and women farmers. “With food surpluses being traded at local, national, regional and international markets, trade agreements that should be entered by ASEAN should a) preserve member state’s capacities to exempt sectors important to food security, livelihood security, rural development and poverty alleviation and ensure the benefit for smallholder producers; as well as b) provide sufficient safeguard measures and remedies", said Ms. Sudaporn.
“ Last but not the least, we ask ASEAN to ensure the participation of small scale rural producers in the policy formulation, implementation of these policies by consulting and involving their national and regional groups in policy formulation and decision-making processes,” she further stated.
Contact persons:
Esther Penunia, Secretary General, AFA.
afaesther@asianfarmers.org *639178138698
Sudaporn Sittisathapornkul, Chairperson, AFA,
sorkorporthai0yahoo,com 081 835 0928
Chaiwat Suravichai, Secretary General, Sor Kor Por
sorkorporthai@yahoo.com +6616467709
