by Kang, Min Su, AFA
October 15, Davao City, Philippines – Forty participants from 15 countries mainly in East Asia gathered here in Davao City to share country experiences on promoting sustainable agriculture, and to explore cooperation on mainstreaming ecological friendly agriculture . The conference, with the theme, “East and Asian Conference-workshop on Sustainable Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change” , held here last October 12-14, was organized by Third World Network (TWN).
AFA was represented here by its Secretary General, Ms. Esther Penunia, Mr. Mai Philarak, First Vice Chairperson of Sor Kor Por, AFA member in Thailand, and Mr. Min Su Kang, AFA volunteer from Korea. Also Ms. Hoang Thi Mai Huong of Vietnam Farmers’ Union, participated in the meeting.
“Small holder and subsistence farmers, pastoralists and artisanal fisherfolk will suffer complex, localized impact of climate change. Industrial Agriculture has contributed 10-12% of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. We need to rethink and reconsider the development paradigm that has shaped agricultural policy in recent years. The long term answer is to revert to a policy of ensuring food security through sustainable agriculture including agro-ecology and organic farming. SA is productive, economically viable, provides global environmental services, can mitigate climate change and is resilient and will allow adaptation to climate change,” says Lim Li Ching of TWN.
During the conference all participants agreed that sustainable agriculture is the only choice for human beings and that it is a key strategy in ensuring food security and self – sufficiency. The challenge is how to promote, mainstream and upscale this as soon as possible. Participants talked about the recent findings of the International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology (IAASTD) conducted in November 2007, which acknowledged the strategic role of sustainable agriculture in mitigatng and adapting to climate change while reinvigorating the natural environment.
Under the green revolution type of agriculture, a few multinational grain companies have now controlled production and marketing of food. In sustainable agriculture, production and marketing of organic products should be controlled and managed by small men and women farmers groups. Small men and women farmers can supply the essential foods of humankind, while protecting the environment and preserving valuable cultural inheritance.
(Photo by Kang, Min Su)
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