The Asian Farmers’ Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA), Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka (PAKISAMA), and the National Land Coalition (NLC) -Philippines, are jointly conducting a capacity-building training on Mapping Tools. The training is supported by the Land Matrix Initiative, with AFA as the …
May 31, 2023. The Asian Farmers’ Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA) started its first of a series of Mindanao-wide training for focal persons on youth and women/ Gender and Development (GAD) in 6 national and provincial agriculture cooperatives/farmers’ organizations and in 11 primary cooperatives …
AFA coordinator for Sustainable Agriculture Agenda, Irish Baguilat, participated in the two-day multistakeholder consultation and planning workshop on Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Agriculture and Forestry Towards Food Security and Sustainable Livelihoods in the ASEAN Region organized by the ASEAN Secretariat Food and Forestry Division, ASEAN Centre …
This article is originally published by Mongabay. Our food systems are under enormous strain. As the climate crisis deepens – as highlighted by the recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – extreme weather events are growing in frequency and severity, with droughts, floods and …
This article is originally published by Just Rural Transition. Our food systems must change The world’s food systems are under immense strain. The climate crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic and global political instability are all contributing to rising hunger and malnutrition worldwide. Most agricultural workers live …
Lila Raj Raut, a young farmer from CTCF Nepal and current Regional Young Farmer Committee Chairperson of AFA, participated in the 4th National Rural Youth Festival held in Brasilia, Brazil on 25-27 April 2023. Themed “Sowing resistance and cultivating a new world“, the event gathered …
Small and marginal Indian farmers including women farmers have been recipients and beneficiaries of innovation and knowledge “transferred” by scientists. However, their roles especially of the women farmers as the backbone of marginal farmer households in India are often not acknowledged. With an aim to …
This article is originally posted by WRF. In order to strengthen the implementation of the 2nd Pillar of the United Nations Decade of Family Farming 2019-2028 (UNDFF) on supporting youth and generational change in family farming, the World Rural Forum (WRF) is encouraging the creation of a …
Learn more about the opportunities presented by the UN Decade of Family Farming and other global processes to promote the welfare of farmers
Watch and learn from 18 resource speakers
On October 6-7, 2020, 180 women and men representatives of farmer organizations, civil society organizations, Indigenous Peoples, public and private stakeholders, and advocates from 12 countries in the Asia and the Pacific region, gathered in a virtual conference entitled, “Sustaining Family Farming in Asia-Pacific through inclusive, family-driven approaches”. Discussions revolved around the critical role of family farmers in transforming agriculture and food systems, especially during this pandemic.
The aims were to promote and strengthen multi-actor partnerships and to contribute positive policy changes to support family farming within the framework of the UN Decade of Family Farming (UNDFF). The regional forum was organized by the Asian Farmers’ Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA), the International Land Coalition (ILC), and the People’s Campaign for Agrarian Reform Network (AR Now!). The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) also lent its technical expertise to the regional event. The event was supported by Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) Asia’s Strategic Collaborative Fund, which aims to foster regional cooperation and policy dialogue for sustainable development and environmental sustainability, through capacity building, knowledge sharing, and increased collaboration.
The Role of UD Decade of Family Farming
Watch and learn about the essential roles of family farmers and their farming systems in sustaining communities and the environment.
Nigel Brett, Director of the Asia and the Pacific Region of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), also talks about the formation of the UN Decade of Family Farming.
This video is available in:
Bahasa Indonesia: https://youtu.be/Wffc1yvgJ58
Filipino: https://youtu.be/Q0dOIA5bg4Y
Hindi: https://youtu.be/zuiLD2ajbAM
Khmer: https://youtu.be/pdSAsr8NTCc
Lao: https://youtu.be/FfjLEzQZiKg
Mongolian: https://youtu.be/X5i2yOtNIUE
Nepali: https://youtu.be/NXplBIb5cMc
Russian: https://youtu.be/NHG0x5FsEiM
Vietnamese: https://youtu.be/ru5aE5GiaWU
Farmers engaging at the regional and global levels
Watch and learn about the rationale for organizing the Regional Forum, “Sustaining Family Farming in Asia Through Inclusive, Farmer-driven Approaches”.
U Than Swe, AFA chairperson and President of Agriculture and Farmer Federation of Myanmar or AFFM, shares the similarities of challenges currently faced by AFA farmers and how regional farmers’ organizations such as AFA can consolidate their voice and engage at the global events.
This video is available in:
Bahasa Indonesia: https://youtu.be/iShh0nObGSc
Filipino: https://youtu.be/nk-xXSrTcS0
Hindi: https://youtu.be/DMFRldTly-8
Khmer: https://youtu.be/ARQL2DHax3Q
Lao: https://youtu.be/ieCIiipWdFs
Nepali: https://youtu.be/AokvAEKV0ak
Russian: https://youtu.be/d6fS2amQ9fM
Vietnamese: https://youtu.be/Ch0RWSUy1lM
The UNDFF and Global Action Plan: Improving family farming to achieve SDGs
Watch and learn about the transformative role of UNDFF and what it intends to achieve for family farmers.
Laura Lorenzo, Executive Director of the World Rural Forum and Vice-Chair of UNDFF International Steering Committee, shares how the UNDFF “leverages on family farmers’ unique potential to promote transformative changes in food systems to fully achieve the SDGs.”
This video is available in:
Bahasa Indonesia: https://youtu.be/wS_LtiA0jTo
Bengali: https://youtu.be/wbW0ZuPVXuI
Filipino: https://youtu.be/gSweOgJYfWo
Hindi: https://youtu.be/d4wRPdmgQXI
Khmer: https://youtu.be/B4WOQELDvz4
Lao: https://youtu.be/cewXz88PIw0
Mongolian: https://youtu.be/r10PU6HZV9U
Nepali: https://youtu.be/lnPqSVix4-g
Russian: https://youtu.be/SSLvvgNF2pY
Vietnamese: https://youtu.be/m4IWfN3DBGs
Family Farmers and the challenge of building sustainable food systems
Watch and learn about the complex issues confronting family farmers; and the role of global processes and framework and what needs to be done at the national and local levels to address systemic challenges.
Thanawat Tiensin, Chairperson of the Committee on World Food Security, discusses how the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) is helping family farmers in building sustainable food systems by giving them the platform to speak out and helping them produce concrete solutions together with the government, civil society, private sectors, and other stakeholders.
This video is available in:
Bahasa Indonesia: https://youtu.be/FXomxcYKDfw
Bengali: https://youtu.be/fyrbd-KI-po
Filipino: https://youtu.be/ocbbZUB4zh0
Hindi: https://youtu.be/IoKglecBuyk
Khmer: https://youtu.be/AcsuV8fGVbg
Lao: https://youtu.be/-OJLyFylvzQ
Russian: https://youtu.be/rELpSGed_uA
Vietnamese: https://youtu.be/VUkvKlRB2YU
Sustainable food systems and the Food Systems Summit
Watch and learn about the focus of the 2021 Food Systems Summit and ways to engage.
Agnes Matilda Kalibata, UN Special Envoy for the 2021 Food Systems Summit (FSS) speaks about how the FSS will allow family farmers to be heard and to engage with various stakeholders. The summit will look into elevating “the conversation around food systems, to understand what is wrong with our food systems, and to understand what we need to do differently, to ensure that our food systems can help us come through on some of the challenges we faced” to build consensus and encourage stakeholders to work together.
This video is available in:
Bahasa Indonesia: https://youtu.be/9gfekOYCJvI
Bengali: https://youtu.be/dJNT9q36tqk
Filipino: https://youtu.be/D4JGIaxfw2A
Hindi: https://youtu.be/7Qw89M_pUAI
Khmer: https://youtu.be/GT1lZCODCVQ
Lao: https://youtu.be/F1lE7-Y08dk
Mongolian: https://youtu.be/X1hPu-W6XTQ
Russian: https://youtu.be/geHkQwVDLCw
Vietnamese: https://youtu.be/SEpl–HtH_s
Land rights and COVID-19: From recovery to resilience building
Watch and learn about land rights and food systems – four immediate actions for recovery and eight contributions from the land rights sector to move to more resilience and more sustainable economies and societies.
Ward Anseeuw, a Senior Technical Specialist at ILC and CIRAD Researcher Knowledge, Learning and Innovation, highlights that it is a strategic time to look ahead and understand and promote land rights, as being the center for new opportunities to build better in the future in the medium and longer-term.
This video is available in:
Bahasa Indonesia: https://youtu.be/xhM23WGlVko
Bengali: https://youtu.be/pPIIj1rSayw
Filipino: https://youtu.be/owukJKyEMCk
Hindi: https://youtu.be/13w8raw25WU
Khmer: https://youtu.be/bo0-gGx_g3w
Lao: https://youtu.be/FgoacRi9fMA
Mongolian: https://youtu.be/Fqgm6yEUQKs
Nepali: https://youtu.be/wHqF3KUtiNs
Russian: https://youtu.be/QqHn_2gYkxw
Vietnamese: https://youtu.be/rB0M82DLPi0
Impacts of COVID-19 on market and rural economies
Watch and learn about the impacts of COVID-19 on local food systems and rural areas.
Ron Hartman, Director of the Global Engagement Partnership and Resource Mobilization of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), also imparts response measures that can enhance farmers’ capacities, including the repurposing of funds to ensure that food systems function effectively, knowledge and policy support, and establishment of Rural Poor Stimulus Facility (RPSF).
This video is available in:
Bahasa Indonesia: https://youtu.be/Kf1ibK9znbE
Bengali: https://youtu.be/TjKcrMq4J7c
Filipino: https://youtu.be/Qwdw1PUYBp4
Hindi: https://youtu.be/13w8raw25WU
Khmer: https://youtu.be/UdLosraDAPw
Lao: https://youtu.be/LuHujKx6SD4
Nepali: https://youtu.be/GZWDBz0RBH4
Russian: https://youtu.be/31aU7RdsrGs
Vietnamese: https://youtu.be/OTwK_ibQkWE
Land Rights, Food systems and COVID-19: Regional perspective
Watch and learn about the various ways that we can build back better learning from the weaknesses of existing systems.
Nathaniel Don Marquez, Executive Director of Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ANGOC), discusses the need to focus on strengthening local food systems and small food producers. Local markets are where small producers have direct access and where they receive fair prices for their produce.
Land Rights, Food systems and COVID-19: Nepal experience
Watch and learn about the impacts of COVID-19 on land issues, land rights, and food systems in Nepal.
Jagat Deuja of Community Self Reliance Center and Nepal Land Rights Forum presents the urgent actions to respond to land rights and food system issues. There is a need for larger debate and campaigns about the importance of sustainable use and equitable distribution of resources, underlying causes of poverty, and hunger much more than before.
Land Rights, Food systems and COVID-19: Indonesia experience
Watch and learn about the initiatives of the Indonesian Consortium for Agrarian Reform (KPA) in advancing peasants’ land rights and how to foster a solidarity economy.
Dewi Kartika, Secretary-General of KPA, Indonesia talks about the challenges of peasants in Indonesia and how they address market problems by linking with labor unions, fisherfolks, and urban poor communities.
This video is available in:
Bahasa Indonesia: https://youtu.be/ys3h3bLA3Ho
Filipino: https://youtu.be/U3JC_xKHykk
Hindi: https://youtu.be/9IFjW_yNc5E
Khmer: https://youtu.be/EilzpiKd0A8
Lao: https://youtu.be/HN5Cj7eK_bs
Nepali: https://youtu.be/XjTKsAM13J0
Russian: https://youtu.be/pJY4dGqky08
Vietnamese: https://youtu.be/QTbbw38b3o8
Sustainable Agriculture and COVID-19: A Holistic Perspective
Watch and learn about the current food systems and how it has contributed to undesirable health and nutrition outcomes, climate change, biodiversity loss, shifts in nutrient cycles, and land use beyond the capacity of our planet.
Normita Ignacio, Executive Director of Southeast Asia Initiatives for Rural Communities’ Empowerment (SEARICE) discusses the need to transform the current food system, shift to agroecological farming systems, and why governments need to invest in an inclusive program for family farmers, women farmers, and youth.
This video is available in:
Bahasa Indonesia: https://youtu.be/QeOr3u2ez_o
Bengali: https://youtu.be/0HQpIorMeZM
Filipino: https://youtu.be/-e7CUWeEMdY
Hindi: https://youtu.be/8LY2T5NL1a8
Khmer: https://youtu.be/JFJ3pJh-_PQ
Lao: https://youtu.be/GJmk_PCrjv0
Nepali: https://youtu.be/51G_-38aGRM
Russian: https://youtu.be/kVhPE6PfZXY
Vietnamese: https://youtu.be/f3UuRPq1AK8
Sustainable Agriculture and COVID-19: The Case of SALIKA Cooperative
Watch and learn about SALIKA Cooperative’s Integrated, Diversified, Organic Farming Systems (IDOFS) Program for its members.
Jon Sarmiento, Farmer and Manager SALIKA Cooperative, explains how IDOFS helped them achieve food security and sustainability in farming, while also contributing to environmental restoration. In the video he also discusses 3 key strategies they have implemented being 1) family farm planning, 2) implementation, and 3) cooperative commodity cluster organizing.
This video is available in:
Bahasa Indonesia: https://youtu.be/W93NYc8QzZE
Bengali: https://youtu.be/s7n6P0UQD08
Filipino: https://youtu.be/IpXnwWpssDo
Hindi: https://youtu.be/I3luK_g_7iU
Khmer: https://youtu.be/h420Ri4lE1U
Lao: https://youtu.be/fF2SlcTqS4k
Mongolian: https://youtu.be/JGW21_0z7TA
Russian: https://youtu.be/HfqsISwaGRE
Vietnamese: https://youtu.be/xnq5wKhJMxU
Sustainable Agriculture, Food Systems and COVID-19: The Case of Lao PDR
Watch and learn about the impacts of COVID-19 in Lao PDR’s agriculture sector and the Green and Sustainable Agriculture Framework.
Dr. Vongpaphane Manivong, Director of Socio-Economic and Marketing Policy Division-Department of Policy and Legal Affairs, Lao PDR Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, shares about the opportunities and challenges for smallholder agriculture in Laos. Laos small-scale farming systems are considered resilient, however, farmers also faced market issues.
Market Access and Covid-19: The case of AgriCOOPh
Watch and learn about Coops4Food, a business model that directly links farmers’ cooperatives to the consumers’ cooperatives.
Cresente Paez, CEO of AgriCOOPh talks about the elements of the Coops4Food:
This video is available in:
Bahasa Indonesia: https://youtu.be/scFM2OV-1hI
Bengali: https://youtu.be/12ZTKrZDL6k
Filipino: https://youtu.be/0wSgKU0Qw8Q
Hindi: https://youtu.be/7YUQ9izVXWA
Khmer: https://youtu.be/isiHjbh7Obo
Lao: https://youtu.be/M6ONDynyS9U
Mongolian: https://youtu.be/9wH6Yp-u5EQ
Nepali: https://youtu.be/8oKxB5QN8Ew
Russian: https://youtu.be/AngLvZJ11rE
Vietnamese: https://youtu.be/omkVOdkqLxQ
Markets and COVID-19: Regional perspective
Watch and learn about how market access is affected by COVID-19 and four areas of concern that Grow Asia recommends to be looked at by policymakers and food systems actors.
Reginald Lee, Director of Partnerships for Grow Asia shares his observations:
This video is available in:
Bahasa Indonesia: https://youtu.be/7_tPNF29tkw
Bengali: https://youtu.be/gvylfmMD7a4
Filipino: https://youtu.be/cFgBgG1HOCc
Hindi: https://youtu.be/RC794AbFSs8
Khmer: https://youtu.be/qIcION678wU
Lao: https://youtu.be/vY4W3mt6H_w
Mongolian: https://youtu.be/qqQsoUiLzT8
Nepali: https://youtu.be/EFJBpVgzLlM
Russian: https://youtu.be/RSmCH_UxybY
Vietnamese: https://youtu.be/LqmWGnUk8lg
Market and COVID-19: The Case of Herders in Mongolia
Watch and learn about the impacts of Covid-19 on herders in Mongolia based on the research undertaken by the National Federation of Pasture User Groups.
Namuulan Gankhuyag of National Federation of Pasture User Groups, Mongolia presents the methodology and how the results were used to raise awareness on the needs of herders and engage the government on policy measures. The federation asked the following questions:
This video is available in:
Bahasa Indonesia: https://youtu.be/Skm_KxUdguY
Bengali: https://youtu.be/Cf9pZE9Vbxs
Filipino: https://youtu.be/FzMcJBfMzXM
Hindi: https://youtu.be/XPtojbyKEso
Khmer: https://youtu.be/3BcUaZ2OD8M
Lao: https://youtu.be/ZfV7BZ2Rfrs
Mongolian: https://youtu.be/B5qJIbm2vE0
Nepali: https://youtu.be/QLX4lfekfsQ
Russian: https://youtu.be/G9qaEchRjwM
Vietnamese: https://youtu.be/4tmsRgK_6wI
A Young Farmer’s Journey
Watch and learn about Jumer Marcaida’s journey as a young farmer and how he, along with other members, was able to foster the strengthening of their cooperative.
Jumer Marcaida, Young Farmers Committee Chair, Asian Farmers Association (AFA), and Chairperson of Golden Parauma Producers Cooperative discusses the importance of capacity building program for farmers not just in farming technologies but also to actively participate in decision-making processes that affect farmers.
This video is available in:
Bahasa Indonesia: https://youtu.be/w2nzteo56WQ
Bengali: https://youtu.be/vSRvJ2ZgT5c
Filipino: https://youtu.be/5ID05vkld7c
Hindi: https://youtu.be/XPtojbyKEso
Khmer: https://youtu.be/TYeBUpFY5gE
Lao: https://youtu.be/Y_YqCMYILp0
Mongolian: https://youtu.be/CQQtr53eiLE
Nepali: https://youtu.be/lxyjibff71E
Russian: https://youtu.be/v-giQdU5B_U
Vietnamese: https://youtu.be/7GtfiY5Q3vk
Family Farming Business models: What support are needed
Watch and learn about concrete steps that can be taken to make Family farming business models viable and sustainable.
Hubert Boirard, Director, Asia and the Pacific Region, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) elaborates on necessary actions at the policy and grassroots levels to achieve sustainable food production at the national level. Actions include negotiation, evidence, and broad-based partnership among others.
This video is available in:
Bahasa Indonesia: https://youtu.be/SScyRuEu2b8
Bengali: https://youtu.be/Y2jwPg3QrrU
Filipino: https://youtu.be/O7kqpbNmKjs
Hindi: https://youtu.be/lTiXG8_Dw7E
Khmer: https://youtu.be/zs1akNiElHw
Lao: https://youtu.be/5iwOK__jR3k
Mongolian: https://youtu.be/UGTkWMcCUos
Nepali: https://youtu.be/QN0iRiHtS-8
Russian: https://youtu.be/o6XwXZB2XmA
Vietnamese: https://youtu.be/QV4Q1lLYp8k