KEY CHALLENGES FOR YOUNG FARMERS

By Kati Partanen, President of IFAP Young Farmers’ CommitteeBrussels, June 16Brussels, June 16thth 2010 2010

MY BACKGROUND

• Farmer (pig meat, cereals, horses and forestry)

• President of IFAP Young Farmers’ Committee

• Substitute Principal Lecturer in Savonia University of Applied Sciences (www.savonia.fi)

International Federation of Agricultural Producers

• Representing about 120 family farmers’ organizations from 80 countries

• Both from developed and developing countries

• Brings farmers from all over the world together to make their voice heard and to exchange

IFAP Young Farmers’ Committee

• Members from all continents

• Annual meetings • Every four years

World Young Farmers’ Congress, next in July 2011 in Kenya

• Board 2008-2010: President (Finland) and three vice presidents (from Uruguay, Kenya and France)

ACTIONS TO HELP YOUNG FARMERS1. Profitability

• Agriculture has to be profitable all over the world

• It has to be possible to make a living with agriculture seeing agriculture as an attractive business and positive investment

• Tools for young people to help their farms to be profitable education support advisory systems

ACTIONS TO HELP YOUNG FARMERS2. Access to production facilities

• Credit• Land• Training and education• Technology• ICT’s• Markets• Etc.

• Young farmers are professionals in agriculture and they want to be treated that way involving young farmers in decision making

ACTIONS TO HELP YOUNG FARMERS3. Decision making

• Encouraging governments to make long term investments in agriculture giving a positive signal about agriculture

ACTIONS TO HELP YOUNG FARMERS4. Investing in agriculture

• Strengthening young farmers’ ability to be organized

• Capacity building in YF’s organizations and networks real exchange between young farmers from all over the world

• Stronger communication between young farmers e.g. social media as a tool to bring young farmers together

• Increasing awareness of decision-makers and public at large

ACTIONS TO HELP YOUNG FARMERS5. Capacity building

“FARMING FIRST”www.farmingfirst.org

A Call for ActionThe framework highlights six interlinked imperatives for sustainable development.

1. Safeguard natural resources2. Share knowledge3. Build local access and capacity4. Protect harvests5. Enable access to markets6. Prioritize research imperatives

•CropLife International• IFAP• International Council for Science (ICSU)• IFA

www.ifap.orgwww.ifap.org

Thank you for your attentionThank you for your attention

… the farmers’ voice at the world level