AFA will hold a seminar-workshop entitled “Developing AFA’s Advocacy on Sustainable Agriculture†on Sept. 11-17, 2006 in Indonesia, to be hosted by AFA member Aliansi Petani Indonesia (API). The seminar-workshop will hopefully result in the development of AFA’s concept paper on sustainable agriculture, which can serve as a blueprint for AFA’s action and advocacy on sustainable agriculture.
Sustainable agriculture is an effective way to ensure environmental sustainability and livelihood. Much research has pointed out to the destructive effects of intensive chemical farming to both the land and the people. Moreover, many of the modern, chemical-intensive agricultural practices and technologies have displaced/dislocated and marginalized the small farmers and indigenous communities.
Also, the high dependence on chemical inputs lowers down the real income of farmers. Policies and programs that support and furthermore, mainstream, sustainable agriculture contribute immensely to the preservation of the environment and protection of livelihoods of the poor farmers and indigenous communities.
The promotion of sustainable agricultural policies and practices by governments, especially from developing countries, has been AFA’s advocacy. But how to mainstream sustainable agriculture in both local, national and regional policies and programs remains a challenge.
In this seminar-workshop, the participants are expected to: increase their understanding of the existing practices, issues, concerns, prospects and challenges in mainstreaming sustainable agriculture in developing countries; learn about initiatives of AFA members, particularly API, in mainstreaming sustainable agriculture: history, systems and practices, issues and challenges faced, lessons; and, outline the framework, principles and guidelines and immediate action points in AFA’s concept paper on mainstreaming sustainable agriculture.
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