Mul t i nat i ona l en te r p r i ses o r fa r mer s ?

W ho should own the land

and who should produce our food ?

Presented by Ms: Elisabeth ATANGANA

President of PROPAC,

FAO Special Ambassador for Cooperatives

Norway, October 2014

PROPAC The sub-regional platform of farmers’ organizations in Central Africa

PROPAC represent farmers’

organizations in 10 countries of

Central Africa

120 million people

70% rural population

1. Adaption to climate change

2. Diversification

3. Fertilization using animal excretions

4. Reduce the hardship suffered by women

(70% of the agricultural labor)

5. Techniques for protecting plants against diseases

6. Biodiversity protection

7. Challenges

a) Food security, food

sovereignty and

nutrition

Land grabbing

• The agricultural sector in Central Africa has

a huge need for capital.

• Massive decline in public investment

• Way open to multinationals, for

investments in industrial agricultural and

land grabbing.

• Lack of implementation of voluntary

guidelines on responsible governance of

tenure.

b) Development of

human resources

• Ensure job security

• Professional training for

youth

• Modernization of agriculture

– changing the image of

family farming

c) Linking farmers to markets and win-win partnership

Protection of local production

The investment in priority areas of support such as: Strengthening farmers’ cooperatives infrastructure, markets, access to funds , processing, conservation of local seeds, access to property and land security.

Enabling environment

The Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) threatening family farmers

Farmers in Central Africa should be able to improve the capacity to set a course of agricultural products in the sub-region (transport, packaging, processing and marketing organization, respect for norms and standards

d) Involvment of farmers’ organizations in decision-making

e) Strengthen the role of women

f) Access to energy, water and credit

7.Produce in accordance with the principles of agroecology

to protect human health

8. Train youth - Building a new generation of family farmers

- Change the image of agriculture and make it more attractive

Conclusion

Family farming is the best way for sustainable development, and we have to invest more and better as the basis for food security, food sovereignty and nutrition for the people. Win-win partnership between family farmers and business sector can be established in an equitable way, but there are huge challenges.

Thank you for your kind attention!