AFA joined the organizing committee of the International Year of Family Farming (IYFF) in organizing the event “International Seminar: The Role of Family Farming in the Construction of the Development with Sustainability,” which was held last June 21, 2012, at the Social Environmental Arena, Flamengo Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The seminar was aimed at promoting integration between the organizations of family farmers to promote sustainable development and dissemination of the International Year of Family Farming.
During the seminar, AFA Secretary General Esther Penunia emphasized the need for farmers to get organized at all levels and to strengthen themselves as a movement.
AFA Chairperson Sophal Uon also spoke and stressed the need to address farmers’ issues such as land, seeds, water, and markets.
Opening the program was Alessandra Lunas, Vice President and Secretary General of CONTAG and COPROFAM, who introduced the two panels.
The first panel was entitled “World Action strategies for strengthening the framework of the International Year of Family Farming,” and whose objective was the socialization of the political agenda of the organizations in defense of the strengthening of family farming as a major player worldwide of the sustainable development for its strategic role in ensuring the sovereignty and food security, and sustainable management of natural resources.
It was moderated by Mr. Alberto Broch, President of CONTAG and participated in by the following panellists:
• Mr. José Graziano da Silva, Director General of FAO;
• Sr. Carlos Seré: IFAD’s chief Development Strategist;
• Mr. Pepe Vargas: Minister of Agrarian Development of Brazil – MDA;
• Ms. Estrella Penúnia: Asian Farmers Association for Sustainable Development – AFA.
• Sr. Domingos Simões Pereira – Executive Secretary of the Commission of Portuguese-speaking countries – CPLP
The second panel was entitled “Family agriculture and development – challenges and perspectives of each continent in the face of Rio + 20,” and had the objective of socializing the main problems faced in each continent to ? ght poverty, food security and sovereignty, water and deserti?cation, biodiversity, climate change and energy, and to discuss strategies and actions to strengthen the family farm for the International Year of Agriculture in continents.
It was moderated by Ms. Conchi Quintana of the World Rural Forum. Joining the panel were :
• Mr. Basavaraj INGIN – AIAF Committee;
• Ms. Muriel Saragoussi – OXFAM;
• Sr. Sophal Uon, AFA;
• Sr. Augusto Ma? go – Platform for Small Farmers CPLP
• Ms. Alessandra Lunas – COPROFAM.
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