International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP)
1
International Federation of
Agricultural Producers
U.N. Commission for Sustainable Development
12th Session
New York, 29 April 2004
STATEMENT BY FARMERS AS A MAJOR GROUP
by Mr. Jack Wilkinson, President of the International
Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP)
Mr. Chairman,
I am the President of the International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP),
which has in membership100 national farmers organisations, representing 500-600
million family farms worldwide. Two-thirds of our member organisations are from
developing countries.
Water is critical for food production, for health, and for the livelihoods of millions of
farm families.
Agriculture is being called upon to double production capacity over the next 25 years,
from essentially the same resource base. Alreadt, agriculture uses 70 per cent of
freshwater resources, so farmers will have to use the best practises available to
produce "more crop per drop".
We know what needs to be done in terms of technology transfer and making loca llyfriendly,
low-cost technology available to farmers. The political will must follow to
translate this into action on the ground.
Mr. Chairman, increased priority is needed for water for agriculture.
Farmers are disappointed that most national delegations and international
organisations had little to say about agriculture. Mostly they are talking about water
and sanitation for urban areas. Currently, most of the world's population is rural. If we
cannot get agriculture on the agenda now, what chance will there be when over 3
billion people live in urban areas in the next 20 years? How will food security be
achieved then, and how will the rural areas survive?
IFAP is pressing for the Water Challenge programs of the CGIAR to include not only
gender bala nce and indigenous peoples rights, but also to include a requirement to
engage with local farmers' organisations as partners.
Water for agriculture should also be included as part of the World Bank PRSPs, with
appropriate mechanisms to encourage the transfer of technology for the best practises
in rational use of water.
Farmers believe that control of water resources is a public responsibility, and that
access to water is a basic human right. While the private sector has a role in providing
delivery of w ater, it will not be cost-effective for them to deliver water to remote rural
areas. This should be a government responsibility.
Water rights are important to farmers. Farmers must be full participants in water
management and in decisions about prioritisa tion of access to water. Farmers should
therefore be members of water boards.
Finally, it is critical to build capacity in farmers' organisations so that they are able to
play their full role in water management and prioritisation, through user groups or as
members of water boards.
International Federation of
Agricultural Producers
U.N. Commission for Sustainable Development
12th Session
New York, 29 April 2004
STATEMENT BY FARMERS AS A MAJOR GROUP
by Mr. Jack Wilkinson, President of the International
Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP)
Mr. Chairman,
I am the President of the International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP),
which has in membership100 national farmers organisations, representing 500-600
million family farms worldwide. Two-thirds of our member organisations are from
developing countries.
Water is critical for food production, for health, and for the livelihoods of millions of
farm families.
Agriculture is being called upon to double production capacity over the next 25 years,
from essentially the same resource base. Alreadt, agriculture uses 70 per cent of
freshwater resources, so farmers will have to use the best practises available to
produce "more crop per drop".
We know what needs to be done in terms of technology transfer and making loca llyfriendly,
low-cost technology available to farmers. The political will must follow to
translate this into action on the ground.
Mr. Chairman, increased priority is needed for water for agriculture.
Farmers are disappointed that most national delegations and international
organisations had little to say about agriculture. Mostly they are talking about water
and sanitation for urban areas. Currently, most of the world's population is rural. If we
cannot get agriculture on the agenda now, what chance will there be when over 3
billion people live in urban areas in the next 20 years? How will food security be
achieved then, and how will the rural areas survive?
IFAP is pressing for the Water Challenge programs of the CGIAR to include not only
gender bala nce and indigenous peoples rights, but also to include a requirement to
engage with local farmers' organisations as partners.
Water for agriculture should also be included as part of the World Bank PRSPs, with
appropriate mechanisms to encourage the transfer of technology for the best practises
in rational use of water.
Farmers believe that control of water resources is a public responsibility, and that
access to water is a basic human right. While the private sector has a role in providing
delivery of w ater, it will not be cost-effective for them to deliver water to remote rural
areas. This should be a government responsibility.
Water rights are important to farmers. Farmers must be full participants in water
management and in decisions about prioritisa tion of access to water. Farmers should
therefore be members of water boards.
Finally, it is critical to build capacity in farmers' organisations so that they are able to
play their full role in water management and prioritisation, through user groups or as
members of water boards.