Did you know...
70% of women across Asia are involved in farming, but only 6.5% to 28% have access to and control over land and natural resources
In the 72nd session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, member-states unanimously approved a resolution declaring 2019-2028 as the UN Decade of Family Farming (UNDFF). The landmark resolution recognised the role of family farmers as catalysts in achieving food security, poverty eradication and in attaining the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Recognising the opportunity for influencing policies and mobilising multiple stakeholders on the UNDFF,
members of the Asia Family Farming Initiative find it strategic to engage with the National Committee of Family Farming (NCFFs). It would also be significant to connect the work of the ILC- National Engagement Strategy (ILC-NES) platforms in the active countries to become part of the NCFF discussions. ILC NES members will act as a key group in formulating and pushing for policy proposals that ensure equitable land distribution and public investments that support family farmers.
What we do
ILC Asia's Family Farming Initiative focuses on building strong small-scale farming to ensure equitable land distribution and public investment that supports small-scale farming systems. This goal was discussed and agreed upon during a regional meeting with the ILC Secretariat during the Global Land Forum 2018 held in Bandung, Indonesia, in September 2018. The present initiative is conceived as part of the numerous contributions from different stakeholders to the global process of the UNDFF implementation at the national, regional and global levels. ILC members determined the following outcomes based on the new engagement strategies of the ILC:
Changes in Practice
- Formation and/or strengthening of multi-stakeholder platforms of the National Committee for Family Farming (NCFF) in each country within the framework of the United Nations Decade of Family Farming
- Knowledge exchange and documentation of farming technology
Changes in Policy
Cultivation of an enabling policy environment for land tenure and sustainable agriculture for family farmers, including women, youth, and elderly at national and regional levels. Some of these policy reforms could cover:
- Magna Carta of Family Farmers
- Tenure Security (collective or individual titles, user rights, etc.)
- The succession of ownership of awarded land to family members (especially for women and youth)
- Preventing land conversion to non-agricultural use
- Push for policies/laws regulating land investments
- Policy support to farmers via Agri-coops and sustainable farming
Strengthened Capacity for Transformation
Capacities of ILC network members in promoting the implementation of UNDFF commitments at regional and national levels are strengthened through collecting cases, practices and strategies and sharing in platforms related to UNDFF implementation, such as NES and NCFF.
This platform can support the activities of members on precedent/landmark cases involving family farmers through mobilisation, case documentation, advocacy, media work, research, and knowledge management, thereby, enhancing their capacities at promoting UNDFF commitments.
Learn from our past event on family farming across Asia
Why family farming matters
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