Press Releases

WTO Public Forum

Make a difference for farmers incomes

Geneva, 26 September 2006 – “For farmers, even though the WTO negotiations are currently suspended, it is important to continue the dialogue on agriculture between negotiators and farmer leaders so that when negotiations resume there can be real benefits for producers in the final agreement” said the President of the International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP) Jack Wilkinson at the Session on Agriculture organized by IFAP during the WTO Public Forum. “Let’s be clear. When we talk about trade agreements, we are also talking about incomes.  Farmers are not asking for charity with the multilateral agreements, they are asking “Does this agreement make a difference to my incomes on my farm?” How do we make sure that these agreements bring real benefits for farmers from developed and developing countries and not only the other players in the global food system? This is the goal of the dialogue between farm leaders and negotiators and this is why we came from all over the world to gather in Geneva” said Wilkinson.

Farmers want to take the opportunity of the pause in the negotiations to make sure that the final agreement delivers fair prices for their products and a system that make sure this goal is achieved.  “We are here today to remind decision-makers that there will be no good agreement on agriculture without improving farmers incomes.  No matter what, profitability for farmers has to be reached” said the IFAP President.

Under the theme “Outstanding Issues in Agriculture and Impacts on Farm Policies”, the IFAP session had leaders from farmers’ organisations examined with leaders of the main negotiating groups, the issues that have yet to be resolved in the WTO negotiations on agriculture, and how these impact on present farm policies and farmers in different regions.

The IFAP will judge the adequacy of the WTO agricultural commitments on whether they meet six critical objectives for farmers.  These objectives are:

• An improvement in world agricultural trade that brings real benefits to all farmers.

• Significant progress and balanced commitments over all three pillars.

• Sufficient flexibility in the modalities framework allowing countries to use the most appropriate instruments according to their specific national circumstances to meet agreed, measurable and equitable outcomes.

• Space for farmers to receive domestic support, so long as that support has no, or at most minimal, distorting effects on production and trade.

• Improvements in market access for all farmers, in particular those in developing countries and Least-Developed Countries.

• Due prominence and recognition of the broad role that agriculture plays in many countries, ensuring not only food production but also many other functions, including the sustainability of rural areas and environmental protection.