Bangkok, Thailand — While big agribusiness companies invest a lot on research and development in chemical farming, government and national agricultural research institutes should balance this by placing making investments on sustainable farming technologies.
Farmers made this call during the “Asian Farmers’ Regional Consultation on Agricultural Research for Development (AR4D)”organized by the Asian Farmers’ Association (AFA) and the Asia Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions(APAARI) last September 10-11, 2012 at Princeton Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand.
The consultation was attended by 22 participants, including 16 representatives from 11 national farmer organizations (FOs) in 9 countries, as well as Dr. Raj Paroda, Executive Secretary of APAARI, and Thomas Price, Senior Officer of the Global Forum for Agricultural Research (GFAR).
During the meeting, FO leaders presented their key initiatives and challenges in their AR4D work.
As a result of the consultation, FO leaders identified key AR4D priorities, the initiatives they undertake, the support they further need, and the principles that will guide further partnerships on AR4D.
Rich and healthy exchanges on the relevance of pushing for sustainable agriculture relative to the growing needs of the population for safe and healthy food ensued.
The results of the consultation will serve as AFA’s inputs to the upcoming second global conference on AR4D, dubbed GCARD2, to be held in Uruguay in October 2012.
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