Mister Chairman, Bureau Members, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Farmers represent a third of the world?s population, and deal with global
challenges, such as food security, climate change, depleting water
resources, and biodiversity. We are custodians of much of earth?s land and
water resources. Unfortunately, smallholder farmers also represent a large
proportion of the world?s poor, so agriculture is strongly interrelated to
environmental, economic and social development.
The challenges for agriculture to remain sustainable are enormous. At the
same time that agriculture must nearly double its production to meet the
increasing population?s needs by 2050, farmers are also expected to
minimize the impact of agriculture on the environment including: a
decrease in GHG emissions, producing more per drop, and providing
society with ecological services. Men and women farmers are committed
to fulfill both objectives, however a strong commitment from the
international community to facilitate the agriculture sector is urgent.
? Agriculture needs a substantial increase in investments, support, and
prioritisation in international and national strategies to link rural
communities efficiently to growing global markets to the benefit of
both.
? Investment must be focused on infrastructure, especially roads, drip
irrigation, storage and processing facilities, market information
systems, extension services, credit, insurance, and access to inputs,
scientific information, and technology.
? National Governments should invest in improving the livelihoods of
farming families by providing them with market returns and rewards
for their services to nature, the ecosystem services.
? Finally, significant financial resources and political will are needed to
strengthen farmers? organizations to better address food security
and sustainable patterns in production and consumption.
We look forward to a constructive dialogue during the coming week.
Thank you Mr. Chairman.
