(Photo by Grow Asia)
The ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) adopted the Guidelines for Responsible Agro Investments (RAI) last October 2018. A workshop to formulate and Operationalize an Action plan was held July 30-31, 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand. Representatives from three regional/international forest and farm producer organizations (FFPOs)–Asian Farmers’ Association (represented by AFA Secretary General Esther Penunia Banzuela), Asian Indigenous Peoples Pact, and World Farmers Organization–articulated the farmers’ voice in this gathering, highlighting the key roles of family farmers in monitoring agri investments and in striking partnerships with both public and private/business sector in the implementation of agri investments that support sustainable, resilient, agro-ecological, biodiversity -friendly practices and systems in production, processing and marketing and trading aspects , and one that protects and secures rights of family farmers to lands and forests , empowers women and involves the youth. With representatives from both the public and private/business sectors, the FFPO reps called for multi stakeholder processes , inclusion in decision making processes, and investments to expand their reach and services to farmers and build their capacities and skills in policy and program engagement. We have high hopes that the AMAF will also adopt next week a multi-sectoral framework for climate change for agriculture and forestry that will be consistent with the RAI principles. ###
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