Practice and policy
Agricultural policies have considerable influence on farming practices as well as on possibilities for change. They influence not only farmers and the way they farm, but also agricultural research and training institutions and commercial companies. At present most agricultural policies are supportive of conventional, export-oriented and large-scale agricultural production, and provide little support to small-scale family farming and LEISA practices.
In spite of this negative policy environment, small-scale farmers all-over the world have managed to develop their cropping practices in a more sustainable way. As is shown in several of the articles, which make up this issue of the LEISA Magazine, tools for influencing policies have been developed and successfully utilized by rural communities.
LEISA Magazine • 21.4 • December 2005
Table of contents:
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4 - 5written by ILEIA editorial teamAn analysis of the successful LEISA experiences which are found all over the world confirms that some special conditions are always necessary for such an initiative to thrive. These include motivated leaders or initiators of action, and sufficient resources. In most cases, special institutional arrangements or rules and regulations are also necessary to enable the change. This is referred to as the policy environment: a set of laws or regulations which favour a particular action taking place or being replicated.
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6 - 8Although smallholder farmers are continuously involved in the use and management of natural resources they often have no voice or power in decision making processes on the same resources. Two examples, one from the tiny island of Grenada and one from Vietnam, highlight some tools that have been used successfully by farmers in influencing decision makers. In both cases there was some help from outsiders, but the strategies used were not expensive or complicated. Furthermore, an important observation from these experiences is that policy influence is not a simple bottom-up process, nor is policy formulation and implementation a simple top-down process.
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9 - 11Uganda has a large community of small farmers who are certified organic producers. Although there is substantial export of organic agricultural produce to many western countries, organic farmers receive little attention and protection from the government. Commercial companies practising conventional agriculture could, therefore, jeopardize the certificates of groups of organic farmers. A farmer-owned NGO in Lira managed to get the interest of a local member of parliament who was instrumental in creating more appreciation nation-wide for the organic agriculture sector. An umbrella organization, representing most stakeholders in this sector, works with decision makers towards a national policy on organic agriculture.
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12 - 13A network of farmer organizations in the north-east of Brazil, Pólo works on increasing food and nutritional security, income generation, and improving the quality of life of its members through experimentation with and exchange of traditional and new knowledge. For awareness creation and spreading their messages they make, for instance, use of drama performances. By participating in various networks, meetings and activities, Pólo is able to increase the impact of its activities and by engaging in dialogue with governmental policy-makers at the state and federal level, this organization has been successful in influencing some public policies related to food and nutritional security.
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14 - 15written by Syed Miftahul HasnatThe Arvari Sansad, a farmers parliament, was formed by villagers in Índia in 1999 with the primary objective of safeguarding community efforts for the conservation and use of their scarce natural resources. The role of the Arvari Sansad is to develop policies and rules while they also elect a coordination committee, which is responsible for ensuring that policies and rules are followed. One policy recently decided upon by the Arvari Sansad, was to support cropping patterns favouring local indigenous crops, which use less water. Therefore, sugar cane production for commercial purposes was discouraged. Some poorer farmers (members), however, raised objections since they needed to grow sugar cane for domestic use for making sweets, for special occasions like marriages and festivities such as Diwali or Holi. Through a democratic process of debate and discussions the Arvari Sansad arrived at an innovative and sustainable solution to this issue which they call the “compensatory agricultural crop pattern”.
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16 - 17written by Luis Gomero OsorioThe Unit for Political Pressure of Peru’s Action Network for Alternatives to the Use of Agrochemicals (RAAA) puts issues dealing with the development of sustainable agriculture and problems with the use of agro-chemicals on the political debate agenda. RAAA’s strategy is to influence the public opinion, authorities, opinion leaders and government officials on aspects related to environmental problems which result from the use of agrochemicals. Identification of such issues for the political agenda is involving the participation of different stakeholders. RAAA’s work includes the establishment of mechanisms for dialogue between authorities and civil society, organizing conferences, media awareness campaigns, mobilization activities, and institutional lobbying.
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18 - 19written by Olu C. Ajayi , Roza KatangaEfforts by ICRAF to introduce fertilizer tree fallows as a means to improve soil fertility of farmers’ land in eastern Zambia were hindered by traditional practices such as bush burning and browsing by livestock during the dry season. The existing local administrative setup was considered to be a good entry point for policy interventions: customary chiefs who have traditionally used their authority to ensure social conformity in the area were introduced to the benefits of agroforestry with as a result that by-laws were created by the chiefs for their respective ethnic groups. An evaluation carried out about five years later showed that there is a reduction in the two constraints mentioned above, particularly in problems associated with free grazing. The evaluation highlighted furthermore that there is still a need for increased awareness about the by-laws, that the economic interests of a broader range of stakeholders, particularly livestock owners, should be taken into consideration in the implementation of the by-laws, and that there should be continued policy dialogue with the chiefs on how the by-laws are working.
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20 - 21written by Roberto UgasIFOAM, the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements, is the world’s leading body in organic agriculture, with more than 700 member organizations from over 100 countries. As seen for more than 30 years with its Basic Standards for Organic Agriculture and Processing, decisions made within IFOAM have a direct impact on the way organic agriculture is practised around the world and on how national and international policies are developed and implemented. Focusing on the General Assembly which takes place every three years, this article shows some of the difficulties in including the opinion of all members and some of the steps taken towards common agreements. It stresses the need for greater participation, for which better linkages and stronger commitment are needed at all levels.
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22 - 24written by William Wolmer , Ian ScoonesIn Africa livestock are vital for poor households, and predictions of future global demand for livestock products indicate considerable opportunities for African producers. However, many of the emerging challenges in livestock production are not technical, but in the complex area of policies and institutions. The challenge is to develop the capacity of African governments and stakeholders to meet the new policy and institutional challenges, from national to regional to international settings.
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25 - 25written by Silvana BujanIn the most productive agricultural region of Argentina high doses of pesticides and other chemical inputs are used, which poses a hazard to the farming community and to consumers. An long-existing law that regulates the acceptability and use of agro-chemicals is not put into practice. BIOS, an ecological NGO has been lobbying and organizing media campaigns in relation to this. Their activities, in collaboration with other actors, include organizing campaigns, seminars and courses for the general public, providing advice to research institutes and NGOs and press-releases to the media, and they also run a local radio programme.
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26 - 27written by Holger MittelstrassIn the 1970s, students of the University of Kassel in Germany indicated a strong interest in curricula on organic agriculture. An unique professorship started in 1981, providing students with a few optional subjects on organic farming while also a research farm for organic farming was started.
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28 - 30written by Ambarwati D. RahayuA relatively small project on sustainable agriculture development, implemented by a local NGO in Mojokerto District on East Java, Indonesia, has received serious backing by district authorities. Through effective lobbying of the highest district authority, the Bupati, several new initiatives were started which include a reformation of the local extension services and the development of a district-wide policy for sustainable agriculture. Farmers who made the transition to sustainable agricultural production approaches have been involved in training of district extension workers. Also the (long) process of formulating the new agricultural policy for Mojokerto District is involving many stakeholders, including local farmers. With the general outlook in Mojokerto District changing in favour of small farmers also other initiatives were born: one village has ventured into claiming back and occupying of government land that traditionally was considered property of this community. By developing this land using proper sustainable agriculture principles this community expects to be able to convince the district parliament of the rightfulness of their claim.
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31 - 31written by Peni AgustiyantoSome farmers on Sumbawa Island in Indonesia aspired a more intensive system of agricultural production and started developing agroforestry gardens. However, free-roaming goats, which have been a long-time important aspect of the village economy, destroyed young tree seedlings planted in the gardens. Therefore, village rules that respected both the traditional goat-keeping system and new agroforestry initiatives were developed by the community.
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36 - 36Interested organisations should send a letter explaining why they want to become a partner of ILEIA,showing how they fulfil the criteria required.
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