[Translate to Español:] The International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP) is the democratic voice of farmers worldwide. Through IFAP, national farmers' organizations throughout the world work together to advocate farmers' interests globally.

Through IFAP, nationally representative farmers' organizations have the opportunity to contribute to global agricultural policies and aid in the formulation of international policy positions that IFAP advocates at the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and other relevant international organizations.

IFAP farmer leaders have access to high-level political contacts - Presidents, Prime Ministers, Agriculture Ministers and Director Generals of international organizations. As an IFAP member, farmer leaders from any country have the equal opportunity to excel and be the voice of the worldwide farmers' movement.

One of the most important benefits of IFAP membership, however, is the opportunity for farmer leaders to interact with one another and develop long term, mutually beneficial relationships.

Benefits of IFAP Membership

As a member of IFAP, your organization would be able to:

1. Participate in the global farmers' network:
   • Interact with IFAP’s 112 members’ organizations in 87 countries
   • Gain access to the benefits and service of IFAP's international partnerships 
   • Raise awareness of members’ concerns
2. Contribute to the formulation of international policy positions on behalf of the world’s farmers  
3. Participate in advocating these policy positions in the United Nations system and other relevant international organizations through IFAP delegations      
4. Build capacity to organize and influence national and international policies

The IFAP secretariat provides members with:

• A unique opportunity to get  involved in all IFAP events and take part in multilateral discussions
• Outcome documents, such as policy statements, reports, studies, background papers and publications
• Updated information on topical issues and international summits pertaining to agriculture
• Communications tools such as newsletters, press releases and an interactive website
• A program to build the capacity of farmers’ organizations and to support farmers' development projects
• Possibilities of sponsorship to participate in main IFAP conferences and international events
• The opportunity to develop leadership skills
• The opportunity to participate actively and get elected within the IFAP governance structures

Members are invited to provide IFAP secretariat with:

• Appropriate means for channeling IFAP information to the grassroots level
• Their commitment to contribute  relevant information reflecting local and national concerns
• Short articles, practical case studies and brief reports on their own events and activities
• Permanent contact with experts and policy staff to collaborate with IFAP on ongoing activities
• Their being the spokesperson and ambassador of the Federation at regional and international levels to promote IFAP general positions

All national farmers’ organizations should be part of the global IFAP farmers' movement.  Members build long-lasting contacts with farmers’ organizations worldwide, get their voice heard internationally, gain access to the main international decision makers and receive support from capacity-building programs.

IFAP Events

The IFAP World Farmers’ Congress occurs every two years. Regional Committees (Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and the OECD countries), Specialized Committees (Women, Young farmers,  Cooperatives and the Development Cooperation Committee) and Commodity Groups (Dairy Products, Grains and Oilseeds, Meats and Feeds and Tropical Products) meet throughout the year and hold special meetings to address their own agendas.


Requirements
Any organization or combination of organizations recognized by IFAP as being substantially and nationally representative of primary agricultural producers within a country is eligible for membership. In many countries, IFAP has several different members.
 

Full membership

Full members are welcome to participate any any of the committee. Full members also have full voting rights, can stand for election to all positions and lead IFAP delegations to international conferences. Full IFAP subscriptions are calculated on a per country basis. This national subscription can be shared among several member organizations from a particular country. However, voting is on the basis of “one country, one vote.”

Development Cooperation membership

DCC membership is open to farmers’ organizations from developing countries that meet the normal criteria for membership, but which are not yet strong enough to be full members. This DCC membership status aims to help organizations to gain capacity to participate as full members of IFAP, both politically and financially. It gives access to all IFAP services and publications, as well as full voting rights and eligibility in the Development Cooperation Committee, for a minimum level of subscription of 220 Euros per member organization. DCC members may have observer status in all other committees, except the Executive Committee. However, Development Cooperation member organizations cannot vote on the adoption of the budget, or in elections, or stand for office except in the Development Cooperation Committee and Regional Committees. Development Cooperation members are eligible for sponsorship and for capacity building projects.  Eligibility for DCC membership is  for a temporary period of 3 years.  After this period, DCC members are expected to become full members. 

The process

Fill out the Membership Questionnaire and send it to the IFAP Secretariat with a letter of request for membership expressing your motivations to join IFAP.

The request will be submitted to the Executive Committee for approval. This decision-making body meets twice a year (autumn and spring).

The membership of the applicant is officially ratified upon receipt of the first subscription payment.

Membership Fees

Annual fees are calculated on a country basis taking into account the importance of the agricultural sector in the GDP. Therefore,  if more than one organization in a given country are members of IFAP, the subscription fee is shared among these organizations.