2nd IFAP International Conference on Women in Agriculture

Women farmers call for a political commitment to the equitable allocation of natural resources

Manila, 19 November 2003 – During the 2nd IFAP International Conference on Women in Agriculture, held in the Philippines on the subject “Empowering women farmers for sustainable development”, rural women made a worldwide appeal - “All stakeholders, from the woman farmer to the international community, must play their role to protect the community and social conditions of everyone concerned. A national and international political commitment is crucial to make sure that natural resources are distributed in an equitable and sustainable way,” insisted women farmers. “Ensuring the same ownership rights for women as for men always has a fruitful impact. Such political and financial commitment leads to a more rapid rate of development, as well as to higher levels of food security, social well-being and health,” declared Victoria Kakoko Sebagereka, President of the IFAP Standing Committee on Women in Agriculture, during her opening address.

While demanding that leaders commit themselves more closely, women farmers are fully aware of their own obligations. “In order to ensure sustainable agricultural development all over the world, it has become vital for women farmers to understand the ins and outs of the policies that govern them. How can we influence policies that affect our activities if we do not fully understand their contents and functioning?” Mrs Sebagereka pointed out. “That is why we are meeting today to reflect together on how to ensure a better future for ourselves and for those close to us. We are building our own future and that of the next generations by strengthening our capacities.”

The Conference addresses two of today’s key global problems: equitable and sustainable access of women farmers to land and water resources, and international trade and its implications for their livelihoods. International trade will be addressed in a participative manner in the form of a workshop entitled the “Globalisation Game” jointly animated with UPA-DI (Quebec Development Organisation), an exercise designed to enable the participants to better understand international trade negotiations.

IFAP President, Jack Wilkinson, insisted on the importance for the WTO of taking women into account because trade is one of the tools that can be used to ensure sustainable world development. And it must be possible for women farmers to use this tool properly. Wilkinson said in his address that “IFAP will give support at the highest level to recommendations on women farmers’ trade.”

Hosted by PAKISAMA, the Farmers’ Organisation of the Philippines and LAKAMBINI, its Women Farmers’ Organisation, this Conference was made possible by the generous financial support of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the International Land Coalition, and Agricord - the network of agri-agencies working within IFAP.