This book, “Shaping the Asian Peasant Agenda: Solidarity Building Towards Sustainable Rural Development in Asian Rural Communities”, portrays the perspectives of AFA and AsiaDHRRA on the agrarian and agricultural situation in their own countries and of the sub-region. It contains country reports, workshop results, and lectures of keynote speakers and resource persons, presented during the sub-regional conferences conducted by AFA from August till October of 2003. This book hopes to reflect the rich discussions during these gatherings and the consensus forged in defining common issues and calls for action.
The sub-regional conferences were part of the preparatory processes for the building of AFA’s Asian Peasant Agenda. These results were consolidated, and the common recommendations became the basis of the AFA Asian Peasant Agenda, approved by the AFA ExeCom in October 2003, and to be ratified in the upcoming AFA General Assembly in February 2004. Both the North and Southeast Asia sub-regional conferences were held in Kaoshiung Taiwan last August 25-27, participated by AFA members from Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan for North Asia and from the Philippines and Indonesia for Southeast Asia. The Mekong sub-regional conference was held last October 22-26 in Hanoi Vietnam, participated by AFA members from Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.
This first joint publication holds special meaning for both AFA and AsiaDHRRA. It is a written manifestation of the close working relationship between the two. Even more, it is important to note that in itself, the process of organizing the sub-regional conferences, as well as writing, presenting, and editing the papers, clearly spoke of the deep cooperation between members of AFA and AsiaDHRRA. AFA members, who are peasant organizations, provided the experience and on-the-ground reality while AsiaDHRRA members helped AFA analyze their issues and draft their calls.
Both AFA and AsiaDHRRA wish to thank Agriterra for supporting the sub-regional conferences. Also, gratitude is extended to leaders and staff of the following AsiaDHRRA members who wrote the papers and accompanied their partner farmer leaders in the discussions of the sub-regional conferences as translators/interpreters: Sor Kor Por and ThaiDHRRA in Thailand; Cambodian NGO Alliance for Cooperation; Sustainable Agriculture Forum, Lao Community Development Association and Quaker Service in Laos; VietDHRRA and Vietnam Farmers’ Union; JaDHHRA in Japan; National Pintung University of Science and Technology and TaiwanDHRRA; KoDHRRA in South Korea; Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka, People’s Campaign for Agrarian Reform Network and PhilDHRRA in the Philippines; and Sekretariat Bina Desa in Indonesia.
Finally, this book is AFA’s and AsiaDHRRA’s modest contribution to the ever-growing literature on Asian agrarian and agricultural situation. We hope the reader will find this book a rich source of information on the Asian rural situations and Asian farmers’ initiatives in building sustainable rural communities.
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