FAO Conference in Rome

No reform without partnership with farmers

Rome, 22 November 2005 – The FAO Reform “A vision for the twenty-first century” presented to the FAO Conference, held in Rome this week, shows a clear lack of recognition of the role of farmers’ organisations in the development process.  “This reform will therefore not put us back on track to reduce world poverty and hunger. IFAP is pressing FAO to amend its reform document to give a central place to participation of farmers’ organisations and their representatives in the decision making process, not as part of a list of various stakeholders, but as food producers being key partners,” said Jack Wilkinson, President of the International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP), when he addressed the Conference today.

Farmers’ organisations have a crucial role to play not only in meeting world food needs but also in rural development, and are willing to take on this responsibility.  How can we hope to eradicate hunger and assure food security without farmers?

While the FAO is discussing this reform, it is important to stress what farmers expect from the FAO and national governments in order to progress and see concrete changes over the coming years.  “We have to move from statements to programs, from speeches to concrete actions. Farmers expect their governments to not only make speeches about reaching the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), but also to take action,” urged the IFAP President.

“As a farmers’ leader, I am appalled about the lack of progress in reducing world hunger. This is due to the neglect of agriculture,” said Wilkinson. The international community agrees that agriculture is key to eradicate human hunger and poverty.  But even though agriculture is recognized as crucial, farmers do not see much evidence of this on the ground. “We need a dramatic change of approach because the current system is not working,” continued the IFAP President.  This should begin with the recognition of farmers’ organisations as key players to be included in the decision-making process.

The FAO has recognised itself the need for more efforts to achieve the MDGs by making this reform proposal. Worldwide farmers represented by IFAP are offering to collaborate with the FAO to put together their knowledge and experience. IFAP and its 110 national member organisations of family farmers are ready to engage with FAO in a more structured partnership relationship to facilitate the mobilization of the energies of small-scale family farmers to achieve the MDGs. In a policy document, IFAP has put forward fifteen concrete actions needed to achieve food security and eradicate rural poverty.  Building partnerships and focusing development efforts on people and their organisations are part of them.  

Note: The policy document “IFAP Recommendations for eliminating rural poverty and achieving food security” can be read on the IFAP website.