An International Year for the future of family farming

For our organisations, coordinated by WRF, the celebration of an International Year dedicated to family farming would create a unique opportunity to develop means, which would assure in the medium and long term, a prosperous and sustainable family agriculture development in the rural and fishing areas on all the continents, especially, in the developing countries.

This proposal by the WRF in favour of the declaration by the UN of an International Year of Family Farming is intended to give a decisive boost to its potential and development which, at this moment, face, among others, the following challenges:

• The difficulty of access, at fair prices, to resources and production inputs (land, water, pastures, local quality seeds, equipment, etc.).In the crucial issue of access to land –often exposed to a very serious legal insecurity and pending real agrarian reforms-, many small agricultural families, indigenous communities and shepherds are deprived of their assets through the forced “acquisition” of their land to establish vast domains of export oriented industrial crops, nourishing a growing spiral of precarious day-labourers, rural exodus and new forms of rural marginalisation and urban poverty.
• A similar situation is taking place in the fishing sector, more and more controlled by big companies against traditional fishing.
• Aging of the rural population and the migration to cities. Scarce incorporation of young people in agriculture.
• Effective recognition of the role of women in agriculture, as an essential part of the concept of family farm household’s adequate legal regulation.
• Lack of or insufficient participation of small farmers and fisherfolk in the making of decisions and policies.
• Volatility of prices, subject often to speculation, etc.

For its part, the International Evaluation of Knowledge, Science and Technology in Agricultural Development (IAASTD), points out that “in agriculture, the current dominant focus, industrial on a grand scale, is not sustainable for it depends on cheap petroleum, produces negative effects on the ecosystem and worsens the growing lack of water”.

The focal point of the International Year of Family Farming which we are proposing is based on a positive and dynamic approach, demonstrating to civil society and its numerous institutions, not only the challenges and difficulties of family farming, but also its great contribution, real and potential, to the world’s food, to the fight against poverty and to the fulfilling of the Millennium Development Goals.

Family farming, along with being the greatest source of employment in developing countries, represents the social base on which the Right to Food should be made a reality as recognised in the Charter of Human Rights, 1948.

Objectives

The prime objective of the International Year of Family Farming is to promote, in all countries, real active policies in favour of the sustainable development of farming and aquatic systems based on the family unit, provide guidance to put them into practice, to boost the role of farmers and fisherfolk organisations and to raise the awareness on the part of civil society of the importance of supporting family farming. And all this is to fight against poverty, to seek food security and food sovereignty, and to achieve an active land and fisheries activity based on respect for the environment and the biodiversity.

Results

Among the IYFF’s foreseeable results the following achievements are contemplated:

1. Outstanding recognition of the United Nations, of international organisations, of governments and of civil society, of the essential function of family farming as a sustainable land and aquatic resources model, as an efficient producer of food, as a source of income, as a fountain of cultural values, of agrarian know-how and as a guarantor of the preservation of the environment and biodiversity.
2. Greater social and political recognition and legitimacy of farmers and fisherfolk organisations as useful partners with public powers in everything related to the elaboration of agrarian policies in favour of family farming, effective legal protection of agricultural land owned by family farm households, and rural development in general.
3. The approval of substantial budgets in different countries and in international organisations aimed to providing better and greater infrastructures and services in rural and aquatic areas and in family agriculture.
4. Progressive recognition of the specific and equitable status of rural women in the framework of an authentic regulation of the family farm household and the creation of supporting tools directed to investment, credit, ownership, etc. for women in the farming sector, etc.

Calendar of activities until December 2011

• First priority, approaching governments to introduce IYFF and to get their support to the Campaign in favour of the IYFF. It is essential to get the political and financial support of one or two governments.
• Getting other agencies support to IYFF.
• Giving assistance and advice to the different initiatives of the associations supporting the Campaign.
• After the continental meetings, the organisation of a World Consultative Committee,-WCC arising from the Continental Meetings, in order to give advice and recommendations to the IYFF Campaign promoted by WRF.
• Meetings with the FAO and the IFAD, Rome, and with the UN at New York office.

More information:

• Interview with Jose Antonio Osaba
• Official IYFF website
• Latest updates on IYFF campaign