AFA held a Consultation Workshop and 3rd General Assembly last February 28 to March 3, 2008 in Sangnok Resort, Cheonan, South Korea, hosted by the Korean Advanced Farmers’ Federation (KAFF), with the theme “China’s Development, Climate Change and Asian Farmers’ Realities: Old Problems, New Challenges for Farmers’ Organizations in Asia.”
The Consultation-Workshop addressed two emerging issues affecting farmers, China’s development and climate change, in the context of the old problems of weak organizations, inadequate capacities for production and marketing, inadequate government support to agriculture, unjust global trade rules and agreements.
A deeper understanding of these new challenges became an essential input for the Third AFA General Assembly’s setting of thrusts and priority activities for the next two years. It also served as a jump-off point for the review of the World Development Report 2008 on Agriculture produced by the World Bank in an effort to influence it towards benefiting small scale farmers and producers.
The objectives of the Consultation-Workshop were to enable the leaders of various national and international farmer and fisher groups to (1) understand the developments of China’s agriculture and the emerging issues that it poses to small scale farmers and fishers in Asia, the causes of climate change and the extent of its impact on small scale farmers in the region, their initiatives and limitations in responding to the challenges posed by China’s agricultural development and climate change; (2) put forward an analysis and critique of the WDR 2008 on agriculture; and, (3) put forward proposals and recommendations to international NGOs and inter-governmental decision-making bodies.
The Third AFA General Assembly, on the other hand, aimed at allowing participants to (1) appreciate the achievements of AFA for the year 2006-2007; (2) plot major thrusts and activities for the year 2008-2009, vis-à-vis the AFA 2006-2010 strategic plan; (3) affirm the status of membership in AFA; and, (4) select the new set of ExeCom members for 2008-2009.
Participants to the event included 34 representatives from AFA members, 4 representatives from partner NGOs, 1 representative from inter-governmental bodies, and 6 representatives from the secretariat of local host and AFA, for a total of 45 participants from 10 countries.
PROGRAM DESIGN AND PROCESS
On February 28, AFA Day, participants went on a field visit to a flower farm and the Dodram pig cooperative. A welcome dinner was held in the evening.
On February 29-March 2, the participants moved to Sangnok Resort for the consultation-workshop. AFA Secretary General Esther Penunia acted as over-all facilitator, but each of the AFA member organization took turns in acting as host teams.
Day 1 (February 29) of the consultation-workshop started with Welcome Remarks by KAFF Vice-Chairperson Goh, Chul Hee. It was followed by the introduction of participants, resource persons, and partners. AFA Chairperson Seo, Jung Eui, who just arrived, then gave the Opening Remarks. He thanked all AFA members for working hard for the farmers during his two-year term as Chairperson. He emphasized that it is important that farmers are proud of their work, and that AFA members themselves are proud of what they are doing. Esther then presented the Objectives and Flow of the Program. It was followed by the identification of host teams for morning and afternoon sessions of the 3-day consultation-workshop.
Session 1, “Farmers’ Situation across Southeast and East Asia,” proceeded with a 10-minute presentation by each country (including translation time), followed by an open forum and a synthesis by Esther.
Session 2, “Climate Change: Causes, Impacts and Possible Responses in Asian Agriculture,” started with a presentation by Ms. Elenita Daño, Research Associate of Third World Network, followed by an open forum, and a presentation from members’ in-country discussions on (1) how small scale farmers will be affected by climate change, in what particular areas and how; (2) what steps are being by their governments to help small scale farmers cope with these effects, their initiatives and proposals to help members cope with and/or counter the effects of climate change; and, (3) what assistance they will need to help their members cope with the effects of climate change. It was then followed by a synthesis by Esther.
Day 2 (March 1) started with an Energizer and a Quiz hosted by AsiaDHRRA Program Officer Lany Rebagay.
Session 3, “Understanding China’s Transition, Its Current Role in the Global Economy and the Challenges for Developing Countries”, proceeded with a presentation from Ms. Dorothy Guerrero, Research Associate of Focus on the Global South, followed by an open forum and a synthesis by Esther. Next came the presentations from members’ in-country discussions on (1) their current trade relation their countries with China, particularly on agriculture; (2) the effect or impact of China’s agricultural trade on the small scale men and women farmers in their countries; (3) the steps being undertaken by their countries to help minimize the negative effects trade relations with China small scale farmers, and what they think of the steps being taken; and, (4) what needs and proposals they have to respond to the issues of small scale farmers with regards agricultural trade with China.
Session 4, “WDR 2008,” opened with a presentation from Ms. Elenita Daño, Research Associate of Third World Network, followed by an open forum and country discussions on (1) what they understand about the WDR 2008; (2) their your analyses, agreements, disagreements with the prescriptions made; and, (3) what AFA should push for and how it should push for them. The session ended with a synthesis by Esther, including some initial action points.
Day 4 (March 2) was devoted to Session 5, “Planning the Way Forward,” which started with a synthesis of discussions and action points by Esther, opened by an open forum. Session 6, “Dialogue with Partner NGOs and Inter-governmental Bodies,” proceeded with a presentation of action points by AFA, capped by the responses of partner inter-government bodies present.
March 3 was AFA’s Third General Assembly.
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