Post on 27-Jul-2015
Mul t i nat i ona l en te r p r i ses o r fa r mer s ?
W ho should own the land
and who should produce our food ?
Presented by Ms: Elisabeth ATANGANA
President of PROPAC,
FAO Special Ambassador for Cooperatives
Norway, October 2014
PROPAC The sub-regional platform of farmers’ organizations in Central Africa
PROPAC represent farmers’
organizations in 10 countries of
Central Africa
120 million people
70% rural population
1. Adaption to climate change
2. Diversification
3. Fertilization using animal excretions
4. Reduce the hardship suffered by women
(70% of the agricultural labor)
5. Techniques for protecting plants against diseases
6. Biodiversity protection
7. Challenges
a) Food security, food
sovereignty and
nutrition
Land grabbing
• The agricultural sector in Central Africa has
a huge need for capital.
• Massive decline in public investment
• Way open to multinationals, for
investments in industrial agricultural and
land grabbing.
• Lack of implementation of voluntary
guidelines on responsible governance of
tenure.
b) Development of
human resources
• Ensure job security
• Professional training for
youth
• Modernization of agriculture
– changing the image of
family farming
c) Linking farmers to markets and win-win partnership
Protection of local production
The investment in priority areas of support such as: Strengthening farmers’ cooperatives infrastructure, markets, access to funds , processing, conservation of local seeds, access to property and land security.
Enabling environment
The Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) threatening family farmers
Farmers in Central Africa should be able to improve the capacity to set a course of agricultural products in the sub-region (transport, packaging, processing and marketing organization, respect for norms and standards
d) Involvment of farmers’ organizations in decision-making
e) Strengthen the role of women
f) Access to energy, water and credit
7.Produce in accordance with the principles of agroecology
to protect human health
8. Train youth - Building a new generation of family farmers
- Change the image of agriculture and make it more attractive
Conclusion
Family farming is the best way for sustainable development, and we have to invest more and better as the basis for food security, food sovereignty and nutrition for the people. Win-win partnership between family farmers and business sector can be established in an equitable way, but there are huge challenges.
Thank you for your kind attention!