African Agroecological Alternatives to the Green Revolution No. 16 / Alternatives Agroecologiques Africaines à la Révolution Verte No. 16
(suivi par le bulletin français)
Compiled by Richard Jonasse
I. FOOD SOVEREIGNTY AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
Website offers Multi-lingual Information on Sustainable Farming Practices
infonet-biovision.org isa web-based information tool offering trainers, extension workers and farmers,mainly in Africa, a quick access to up-to-date and locally relevant informationin order to optimize their livelihoods in a safe, effective, and ecologicallysound way.
The information presented is specifically relevant for theAfrican continent and its inhabitants, many examples and case studies are fromKenya or East African countries, but can be useful for other tropical countriesas well. The topics presented on infonet like crop management, diseases, pestsand environmentally sound technologies are focused on the ecology and thespecies that are prevalent in East Africa.
http://www.infonet-biovision.org/
If You don’t Save Seeds You are Not a Farmer
Nico Bakker and Feliz Zenén Martínez Mendoza
In parts of Mozambique, seed fairs have become an importanttool for improving family farming and food sovereignty. The concept is simple:create a space for small farmers from different regions to come together toexchange seeds. Gaining access to (diverse) genetic material allows for new opportunities and ideas for reducing risk and increasing productivity on farms.But seed fairs also offer a way to value and strengthen farmers’ knowledge andlocal culture, as well as strengthening farmers’ movements. An inspiration toothers to set up their own seed fairs!
FULL ARTICLE (pdf): http://ileia.leisa.info/index.php?url=getblob.php&o_id=236287&a_id=211&a_seq=0
Report: Ecological in Ethiopia – Farming with nature increases profitability and reduces vulnerability
The Tigray Project, described in this report, is asuccessful example of sustainable agriculture in Northern Ethiopia where stakeholder involvement and support to local farmers have been key. The TigrayProject, has achieved a range of positive results in a region that has previously been severely affected by soil erosion and decreasing yields.Experts from local to national level together with the farmers in the regionhave devised a farming system that is based more on biological diversity –particularly the rich knowledge and agrobiodiversity of the farmers – and ecosystem services than on fossil fuel, in order to provide a long-term secure food supply and ecologically sustainable agriculture. The project, which is primarily directed at small farmers with around one hectare of cultivated land,has resulted in higher yields, higher groundwater levels, better soil fertility, increased household income and stronger livelihood opportunities for women. The government has now adopted the approach used in the project tomitigate soil damage and to alleviate poverty in 165 local districts in thegrain-producing parts of Ethiopia.
The report covers: agriculture based on local resources and ecosystem services, diversification of crops and cropping methods, water management in a landscape perspective, and women’s livelihoods.
Full Report (PDF/ 1.8 Mbs): http://www.ifoam.org/about_ifoam/around_world/aosc_pages/pdf/Ecological_in_Ethiopia.pdf
Africa seeks financial compensation for climate change
(Monday, 12 October 2009) Africa will demand billions of dollars in compensation from developed nations at a UN climate summit for theharm caused by global warming on the continent, African officials said Sunday.With just two months to go before the UN summit in Copenhagen, officials met ata special forum in Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou where they underscoredthe need for compensation for the natural disasters caused by climate change.
"For the first time Africa will have a commonposition," African Union commission chairman Jean Ping told the seventhWorld Forum on Sustainable Development. "We have decided to speak with onevoice" and "will demand reparation and damages" at the Decembersummit, Ping said.
Experts say sub-Saharan Africa is one of the regions most affected by global warming. The World Bank estimates that the developing world will suffer about 80 percent of the damage of climate change despite accounting for only around one third of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere."Policy-makers have to agree to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases andadhere to the principle that the polluter pays," Ping said.
In a final declaration, the six African heads of stateattending the forum said they supported calls for industrialised nations to cuttheir carbon emissions by "at least 40 percent" by 2020 compared to1990 levels.
FULL ARTICLE: http://www.africagoodnews.com/sport/africa-seeks-financial-compensation-for-climate-change.html
Zambia: Government targets a 5.2 percent growth inagriculture
(October 9, 2009) Zambia’s government says it expects theagriculture sector to grow by 5.2 percent in 2010 compared to the 1.9 percentin 2009 following the bumper harvest in maize this year. Finance and NationalPlanning Minster, Stumbeko Musokotwane, said the maize production rose from 1.5million metric tones to 1.9 million metric tonnes the country the biggest thecountry has recorded in the last ten years.
Dr. Musokotwane said this in Parliament today during thepresentation of the 2010 national budget adding that government views theimproved performance of the agriculture and the livestock as the most powerfultool to reduce poverty and stem the rural-urban divide. Government hasincreased the allocation to agriculture and livestock sector from K1,096trillion in 2009 to K1,139 trillion in the 2010 national budget.
The minister told parliament that the creation of the newlycreated Livestock and Fisheries ministry will ensure that the sector receivesfocused attention. He added that its potential will be supported by targetedintervention aimed at controlling animal disease and improve veterinary services.
Dr. Musokotwane said through this intervention the sectorwill become the next priority sector to contribute to the national GDP aftercopper. He said government will continue to create of disease free zones(D.F.Z) throughout the country to facilitate livestock exports.
He has announced that government has allocated K430 billionto the revised Farmers Input Support Programme (FISP), K100 billion to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) and another K10 billion towards Food Security Packs. Headded that government will complete the remaining works on the Nansanga farmingblock in Serenje and has since allocated about K 40 billion to step updevelopment of the block.
Dr. Musokotwane has also disclosed that government will also commence similar infrastructure development in Luena Farms block in Kawambwa district where they will be growing sugar. He further said that government will this year continue rehabilitating grain silos across the country to improve grain storage and protection.
ARTICLE: http://www.lusakatimes.com/?p=18726
II. THE GREEN REVOLUTION & AGRIBUSINESS AS USUAL
Assessing the Legacy of Norman Borlaug: Did the Green Revolution Prevent Famines?
Alexis Lathem, 08 October 2009
In the last month, following the announcement of the deathof Norman Borlaug, we have been reminded of the sweeping claims that have beenmade about the successes of the green revolution. Borlaug was an agriculturalscientist who, under the auspices of the Rockefeller Foundation, developeddwarf varieties of wheat and rice that are widely reported to have producedmiraculous yields, and which “saved the lives of millions of people” in the developingworld who would otherwise have starved.
“Father of green revolution saved millions of lives” reads one headline. “The Nobel winner who fed the world” reads another. It would seem that any claim that a single human being could have achieved these miracles, let alone a technician – should arouse at least a measure of skepticism. Although some of the commentary that appeared following the announcement of Borlaug’s death admitted that the green revolution has had itscritics – it has after all, increased poverty in the world, widened the gap between rich and poor, caused water tables to drop to dangerous levels, caused widespread chemical contamination, and led to staggering losses of top soil and soil fertility – the claim that Borlaug’s innovations in plant genetics“saved millions of lives” has gone by virtually without challenge.
The moniker “green revolution,” which refers to the United States’ aggressive campaign to “modernize” third world agriculture, has been one of the most successful public relations ploys in the history of political marketing. For what could be more politically benign than the wholesome images it evokes – images of green fields and amber waves of grain – or less objectionable than an effort to grow food to feed the hungry and the poor? For all the criticisms of the industrial agricultural system that the green revolution introduced to India, Pakistan, the Philippines and other countries,these concerns must be measured against the claim that “millions of people”would otherwise have starved.
What, however, is the basis for the claim that the green revolution saved millions of lives? It is repeated often enough, although source documentation is never provided – it is as generally accepted as, for instance, the claim that the civil war ended the institution of slavery in the United States. No source documentation is needed. But how do you measure,scientifically speaking, what would have happened? Have the alternatives to theagricultural model that prevailed be taken into account? Is it possible that –given that the predicted famines did not occur – that these projections wereflawed? Can we assume that there were no alternatives to ramping up foodproduction in the industrial style? Is it impossible that there might be anotherexplanation to India’s avoidance of widespread famines since Independence,other than the intervention of the Ford and Rockefeller Foundations andBorlaug’s miracle seeds?
The persistence of the belief that so- called high yielding seeds (they produce high yields only because they are tolerant of large doses of chemical fertilizers) saved millions of people from famine, is all the more remarkable given that the scholarship has thoroughly discredited it. What is implied here is that industrial methods produce more food than small farms that integrate a diversity of crops and rely on natural fertilizers and hand labor – which has been disproved by innumerable scientific studies.[1]
What is also implied by the argument is the Malthusian logic, which holds that famines are a consequence of a lack of food, and a lacka food is a consequence of the failure of agricultural systems to produceenough to keep up with population growth. Naturally where there is hunger, we assume that there is a lack of food. Historians and economists – most notably Amartya Sen, another Nobel laureate, who has examined the causes of hunger and famine in dozens of scholarly books – have found that famine and hunger have historically been unrelated to food availability.
FULL ARTICLE: http://towardfreedom.com/home/content/view/1710/1/
NEPAD and AGRA Join Hands to Achieve Food Security
By Dr. Maria Wanzala
Midrand, 5th October 2009 - The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) met on October 5, 2009 to further discussions towards the finalisation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that is aimed at enhancing their joint worktowards achieving food security in Africa.
In attendance at the meeting were Dr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki,the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NEPAD and Prof. Richard Mkandawire, Headof NEPAD’s Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Program (CAADP). AGRAwas represented by Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, Vice President for Policy and Partnerships.
The basis of the partnership is the recognition of thesimilar and complementary interests and capacities of the two institutionsvis-à-vis accelerating agricultural development in Africa in order to achievefood security. Therefore, the purpose of the partnership is to establish aplatform for cooperation and coordination between the two institutions toachieve this mutual goal through policy- and program-oriented actions tojointly address the underlying constraints in all aspects of the Africanagricultural value chain….
NEPAD’s Comprehensive African Agricultural DevelopmentProgram (CAADP) was endorsed in 2003 by African leaders as the program toaccelerate economic growth in Africa through agriculture-led development whichwould eliminate hunger and poverty through investments in 4 key areas:extending the area under sustainable land management and reliable water control systems; increasing market access through improved rural infrastructure and other trade-related interventions; increasing food supply and reducing hunger; and improving agricultural research systems to disseminate appropriate new technologies, and increasing the support given to help farmers adopt them.NEPAD and AGRA have a common agenda and complementary objectives aimed atpromoting accelerated agricultural growth in order to achieve food security andalleviate poverty.
COMMENT: The term“food security” has been rejected by many farmers’ organizations in Africa infavor of “Food sovereignty.” While “food security” refers to accessing enoughfood to avoid hunger, the term “food sovereignty” refers to control overproduction and consumption of food at the local and national levels in order toavoid dependency on monopolies and volatile global markets. Proponents of foodsovereignty assert that true food security is impossible without foodsovereignty and point out that the global food crisis was unleashed not becauseof any lack of food, but because of high prices on global markets combined withhigh dependency on those markets. For NEPAD, Gates, and Green Revolution promoters food security entails providing productivity increases. This position does not address issues critical to food sovereignty, including: the security of smallholder land rights and local control over grazing, water, seed varieties, livestock breeds and fisheries.
FULL ARTICLE: http://www.nepad.org/News/sector_id/6/lang/en/news/38
Ethiopia: Meles Warns of Relief Agencies' Hidden Agenda
Argaw Ashine 11 October 2009
Addis Ababa — Ethiopian Prime minister Meles Zenawi hasaccused food aid agencies of lacking genuine interest to end hunger and povertyin Ethiopia. The country's 6.2 million people are reported to be in need offood aid. During an extraordinary parliament session over the weekend, Mr Melestold Ethiopian MPs to be wary of food aid agencies with hidden businessinterests.
He termed the agencies "food aid industry", whichbenefits from their intermediary role between the hungry people and the donorsin rich nations. Some agencies, charged Mr. Meles, were reporting exaggeratednumbers of affected people for the sake of their ideological, economic andpolitical interests. The PM described the aid agencies as "lords ofpoverty", naming some key players, including food supply firms, retailers,transporters and distributor agencies.
"We have never been given more than 60 per cent of aidwe required for the last 18 years of our administration," Mr. Meles said.A week ago, international charity organisation Oxfam and the UN humanitarianoffice issued an appeal for 6.2 million Ethiopians in need of emergencyhumanitarian assistance due to severe drought. "Some 6.2 millionEthiopians hit by two-year recurrent drought are facing starvation and needemergency assistance," Mr Abera Tola, the head of Oxfam America in EastAfrica, told reporters.
FULL ARTICLE: http://allafrica.com/stories/200910120110.html
Land-grabbing in Africa: The why and the how
Nikolaj Nielsen 2009-10-07
Two years ago singer–songwriter and activist Bob Geldof wasso excited about biofuels he even became the special advisor to biomass companyHelius. At the time, Geldof visited jatropha curcas plantations in Swaziland run by UK biodiesel producer D1 Oils. Geldof was quoted as saying that these plantations had 'life changing potential'. Since then, D1Oils dropped out and Mr. Geldof silenced. HIV/AIDS victims in Swaziland were'targeted to plant jatropha and promised easy money', said Adrian Bebb at Friendsof the Earth International (FoE) in a telephone interview with Pambazuka News.But jatropha was a cause supported by rhetoric and a science that neglected thesocio-cultural impact. The perennial plant would produce inedible oil and anyfinancial gain would depend entirely on the biodiesel plant operator, whichpulled out. The crops planted in marginal lands were also unable to produce anysufficient yields. Those who worked the land were left empty-handed andconsiderably worse off.
FULL ARTICLE: http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/59291
Fertilizers may not help crops of poorest African farmers
By Krishna Ramanujan
Researchers have linked poverty in sub-Saharan Africa withpoor soil health, but two new Cornell studies find that the recommendedpractice of applying more fertilizer may not help the poorest farmers.
Two new studies by Chris Barrett, the Steven B. and JaniceG. Ashley Professor of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell, and PaswelMarenya, Ph.D. '08, a lecturer at the University of Nairobi, find flaws in thefertilizer-promotion strategy used by dozens of African countries to improve soil health, crop yields and the wealth of poor farmers. Forty African heads of state had devised plans in 2006 to help farmers in sub-Saharan Africa -- one of the poorest regions of the world where soils are often too degraded to reliably grow crops -- get better access to soil-enhancing fertilizers by improving roads, increasing access to seasonal credit and improving farmer education on fertilizer use.
"If soils are too degraded, fertilizers don't respond well," said Barrett. "These results challenge basic assumptionsbehind efforts to promote fertilizer use and distribution as a key element ofpoverty reduction strategies in rural Africa."
FULL ARTICLE: http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Sept09/BarrettSoils.html
African States Threaten Doha Veto over Cotton
Fri Oct 9, 2009 10:27am GMT
OUGADOUGOU (Reuters) - Four African states threatened lateon Thursday to veto any accord in the Doha trade round that did not addresstheir demands for a reduction of Western subsidies for cotton. The negotiationson the product, a mainstay of several African economies, are seen as atouchstone of efforts to create a fairer global trading system in the Doharound, where agreement is sought in 2010.
"The negotiations on the Doha cycle are globalnegotiations and if even one country is not in agreement, there is no signing,there is no implementation of the accord," Mali Trade and Industry Minister Ahmadou Abdoulaye Diallo said. "So we are going to tell them that if they want us to sign the global accord, our interests, particularly regarding cotton, must be looked after," he told reporters after a meeting with officials from Chad, Burkina Faso and Benin.
African countries want the United States to make bigger cutsin its cotton subsidies than in other agricultural products. They say that U.S.cotton subsidies make it uneconomic for their farmers to produce, and theycannot afford similar state aid. "They (subsidies) undermine our sectors,which are suffering from it enormously. It is an injustice which must be putright," said Mamadou Sanou, trade minister for Burkina Faso.
U.S. officials have hinted that they will do something oncotton but say they cannot make an offer until they can see the overall deal inagriculture. More recently they have argued that China and India must also opentheir markets to U.S. cotton.
ARTICLE: http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE5980C220091009
Zimbabwe / USAID Launches $20 Million AgriculturalSupport Facility
HARARE, Zimbabwe, October 2, 2009/African Press Organization(APO)/ — The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Standard Chartered Bank of Zimbabwe (Stanchart) signed an agreement that will enable the bank to expand its lending by $20 million over five years. The program, made possible under USAID’s Development Credit Authority, is targeted at the agricultural sector and will allow Stanchart to increase the number of loans it makes directly to farmers and enterprises. The ultimate objective is to provide inputs and technical assistance to small holder farmers that will allow them to increase productivity and production.
“The credit authority is being established as one of severalassistance programs, above and beyond U.S. humanitarian aid to Zimbabwe, whichhave come about because of President Obama’s commitment to provide agricultural and other assistance to the people of Zimbabwe. The President made this commitment to Zimbabwe’s Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai, during the primeminister’s June 2009 visit to Washington, D.C. The assistance demonstrates thewill of the American people to assist Zimbabwe to restore its once vibrantagricultural sector,” said Donald Petterson, Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S.Embassy.
Samuel Nhakaniso, Stanchart’s Head of Origination &Client Coverage, signed on behalf of Stanchart while USAID was represented byMission Director Karen Freeman. The ceremony was also attended by senior U.S.Embassy officials and representatives of Stanchart.
Freeman also announced that USAID will separately provideapproximately 13,000 vulnerable households with seeds and fertilizer for thecoming agricultural season through $1.7 million in funding to the Food andAgriculture Organization and NGOs. USAID’s Development Credit Authority Programis already operational in over 23 countries worldwide, assisting thousands ofenterprises to access the financing they need to grow their businesses.
SEE BELOW:
Agriculture is our way out
MOHAMED FOFANAH AND NALISHA KALIDEEN - Sep 21 2009
Rodger Phiri has found his fortune in farming.
While a good number of farmers in Africa have struggled to survive because of bad harvests, drought and poor-quality seed, Phiri is one of the few exceptions. Phiri benefited from the Zambian government's fertiliser subsidy programme which paid for half of his and about 150 000 other smallholding farmers' fertilisers. For delegates at the Food Agriculture Natural Resources and Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) regional dialogue,Phiri's story is a shining example of how agricultural expansion can lead to economic development.…
Phiri grows maize, cotton, tobacco and peanuts, but when hefirst started he only used a small portion of his land. "I started farmingon five hectares of land but since I started getting the subsidies, I am nowable to work on 20 hectares," he said. Phiri's, and other farmers',increasing wealth has had a knock-on effect on the community. "[Thegovernment] has also been constructing roads in the rural areas where our farmsare, and providing information and markets for our crops," Phiri said."Now I am exporting and making lots of money."
Not every farmer has enjoyed such success but Phiri's resultis one delegates of the FANRPAN dialogue would like to see multiplied acrossthe continent.…
However, subsidy programmes do not come without problems.Criticism has been levelled against Malawi's subsidy programme, where government prioritised the agricultural sector by allocating 14% of thecountry's budget to the sector. But not all farmers have benefited from this.The surplus of produce has forced many of them to sell at lower prices dictatedby the purchaser. The Malawian government is now addressing the issue of price undercutting.
Experts have also cautioned that there are potential riskswith subsidy programmes that governments need to be wary of. Hans Binswanger, aprivate agriculture and rural development consultant, said earlier this year:"If not designed and implemented properly, they [subsidies] can causedisruptions in markets, resulting in high prices which are costly to thegovernment and people. This undermines the intended benefits of the fertiliserand seed subsidy programmes."
"Agriculture has a lot of risk and uncertainty, so as aresult most banks don't really want to finance agriculture." He also said in most of Africa, women's lack of property rights meant that they were stripped of all family assets upon the deaths oftheir husbands.
Delegates also pointed out that there are still gaps thatrequire further research and dialogue in Africa. Participants expressedinterest in further research on understanding the contribution women and theyouth make to agriculture, the role of livestock and the role of biotechnologycan play. -- IPS Additional reporting by Salma Ahmad and Joyce Mulama
FULL ARTICLE: http://www.mg.co.za/article/2009-09-21-agriculture-is-our-way-out
USADF Signs Four Grants to Support Economic Development in Senegal / Grants Will Support Marginalized Women’s Groups
DAKAR, Sénégal, September 30, 2009/African Press Organization (APO)/
The United States African Development Foundation (USADF) has signed four grants to support grassroots groups in the Casamance Region of Senegal. The grants will benefit GIE Baracuda, GIE Fouta Dindefello, GIEMere Theresa Kédegou, and Le Directoire Regional des Femmes en Elevage – Kolda (DIRFEL). After signing the grants, USADF President Lloyd Pierson stated,“USADF serves the most marginalized populations in Africa. With these grants, USADF is funding economic development for those who otherwise wouldhave limited to no access to jobs and higher incomes.” GIE Baracuda is locatedin Foundiougne where there is a lack of employment opportunities. Most ofthe population relies on fishing for income. GIE Baracuda promotes thedevelopment of its members through economic opportunities and is seeking totake advantage of growing urban market for corn and peanut butter. Thetwo year grant will provide assistance for equipment, training, technicalassistance, and administrative costs.
GIE Fouta Dindefello is comprised of a group of twenty-two women who process and markets fonio, a local cereal, and baobab fruit. The women have been approached by two major buyers but are unable to meet the large orders. The two year grant will provide funding for modern equipment,working capital, and training. GIE Mere Theresa’s members are Bassari, a minority ethnic group that is extremely marginalized. Most are illiterate and do not have access to land. Members process and sell fonio as a meansto make higher revenue and gain respect in their communities. The twoyear grant will fund new equipment, working capital, and training.
DIRFEL is an association of 2,000 women engaged in poultry production in an area that has high levels of unemployment andilliteracy. The group intends to take advantage of the growing urbandemand for chicken products but does not currently produce or sell enoughpoultry to gain a foothold in the market. The two year grant will fundequipment, training, and technical assistance. USADF established programming inSenegal in 1987. Senegal’s current portfolio stands at fifteen investmentprojects totaling more than two million dollars.
Chinese investors descend on Masindi
Written by SSEKIKA EDWARD, 11 October 2009
HOIMA- A Chinese Company plans to build a manufacturing plant to process animals feeds, canned food and make agricultural implements inKigumba, in the Western district of Masindi.
Hebei Company will initially employ about 1,000 people oncethe plant is in place, the General Manager, Ligiun Qui, said. He was speakingduring a meeting with the king of Bunyoro Kitara in his Karuziika palace.
Qui told King Solomon Iguru that the company will importagricultural machinery and equipment such as tractors from China for its operations.
Hebei Company will grow maize, rice and wheat on 1,000 acres of land. The company will also grow fruits and vegetables on over 300 acres forboth export and the local market. Other activities will include poultry farmingand sheep rearing. The company will make a short term investment in fast-growingcommercial trees (6,400 acres) with an initial investment of about $10 million,Qui said.
He added that the company targets to supply the local,Chinese as well as European markets. He asked for a favourable tax regime andrelaxed immigration rules to enable the company bring in about 200 experienced technical personnel from China to kick-start the project.
The company plans to grow its operations to about 100,000 acres of land in 8-10 years.
“Our enterprise has many years of experience in agricultural industrialisation and fund strength. We regard this as an opportunity to develop the national agriculture of Uganda and the relevant industries in amore cost effective manner,” Qui said.
Tanzania: Public fury halts biofuel onslaught on farmers
By MIKE MANDE October 5 2009
Tanzania has suspended investments worth millions of dollarsafter a storm of protest over the eviction of farmers to make way for biofuels.The EastAfrican has learnt that the country will not start any new agrofuelproject before the government reviews the selection criteria for eachinvestment. The government has also halted allocation of huge chunks of land tobiofuel investors.
Under fire from international and local environmentalists,the government said it will stop further acquisition of land by biofuelinvestors pending clear procedures and policies on such investments. Thegovernment has faced even more questions since The East African reported lastweek that more than 5,000 rice farmers across the country would be evicted topave the way for biofuel projects. The criticism peaked last Wednesday when aresearcher from Sokoine University of Agriculture in Tanzania, Kenneth BengesiKitundu, said the government was treating the biofuel investments like a“bottomless pit” at the expense of farmers.
A senior government official told this newspaper that President Jakaya Kikwete has ordered all regional authorities to halt current and future biofuel projects and acquisition of land from villagers. Esther Mfugale, co-ordinator of biofuel production in the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Co-operatives, said the government has stopped biofuel investments, plus further acquisition of land by investors, till there areclear procedures and policies.
Already, 40 companies have biofuel projects in the country.The government said it was waiting for the Cabinet to approve the regulations and prepare a clear policy on biofuel investments. “The government is waiting for the Cabinet to pass the regulations. Thereafter, we will prepare policiesto pin down investors once they have done something against the interests ofthe country,” said Mrs Mfugale.
COMMENT:. The 400,000 hectares of agrofuels in the Wami basin that would displace thousands of rice farmers was reported by GRAIN in 2007. This casts doubt on the government’s “surprise” at the findings of displaced farmers.
FULL ARTICLE: http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/-/2558/667648/-/item/0/-/wst89uz/-/index.html
GRAIN REPORT (PDF): http://www.grain.org/seedling_files/seed-07-07-6-en.pdf
III. BIOTECHNOLOGY
Monsanto Forecasts Africa to Increase Biotech CropPlanting
By Aya Takada, Oct 9. 2009
Monsanto Co., the world’s biggest seed producer, expectsAfrican countries to increase planting of genetically-modified crops to boostfood security and economic development as the region is affected by climate change.
“Burkina Faso plans to double the area planted with the company’s insect-resistant cotton next year from 129,000 hectares (318,766 acres) this year,” Natalie DiNicola, director at Monsanto’s public policy and sustainable yield division, said in an interview yesterday. “Corn modified to tolerate drought may be introduced to the sub-Saharan region by 2017,” she said.
Farming in developing countries needs $83 billion of annual investment for production to feed the world in 2050, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization said in a paper this week. “Monsanto is introducing new modified seeds to boost yields as part of a plan to double gross profit from 2007 to 2012. Africa is affected by climate change as more than 95 percent of sub-Sahara cropland is rain-fed,” DiNicola said in Tokyo.
“Genetic modification technology will be increasingly accepted by developing countries as they face the problem of how to feed rapidly growing populations,” said Takaki Shigemoto, a commodity analyst at research and investment company TOS in Tokyo. “Crops modified to produce better yields under limited water supply will be attractive to them.”
Developing countries may experience a drop of between 9 and 21 percent in overall potential agricultural productivity as a result of global warming, the FAO said in a Sept. 30 report. Poorest regions with the highest levels of chronic hunger are likely to be among the worst affected by climate change, according to the report.
CROP PLANTING
“Africa is the only continent where per-capita food outputis falling, as a lack of investment and technology curbs yields,” DiNicolasaid. St. Louis-based Monsanto is the largest producer of GMO crop varieties.
Area planted with GMO crops, including corn, soybeans andcotton, topped 1.8 million hectares in Africa last year as Egypt and Burkina Faso began production of modified corn and cotton respectively, according tothe International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications. Inthe western African country, less than 50,000 hectares were planted withmodified cotton in 2008, the industry group estimates.
“Area planted with GMO cotton rose by more than 158 percent this year, covering about 25 percent of Burkina Faso’s cotton acreage, as the biotechnology is forecast to boost yield by 35 to 45 percent,” DiNicola said.
COTTON FARMERS
“Cotton is a very important income-generating crop forsmallholder farmers,” DiNicola said. Increased yield makes “a very big impacton their livelihood,” she added. Monsanto’s earnings will fall in fiscal 2010, the companyhas forecast, ending eight consecutive years of gains as U.S. farmers spendless and Chinese competitors sell cheaper generic versions of its Roundup herbicide.
Monsanto is conducting field tests on corn modified toincrease yield under drought conditions for commercialization in 2012 in theU.S., the world’s largest exporter of the gain. “The new varieties will helpachieve a goal of doubling the crop yield to 300 bushels per acre by 2030,”DiNicola said.
“The company is cooperating with government and non-profit organizations to develop drought-tolerant corn suitable for Africa and may release varieties in the region five years after the U.S. introduction,” she said.
“Corn yield in sub-Saharan Africa is about one metric ton per hectare, compared with eight tons in the U.S. and the global average of five tons, according to Monsanto. Drought-tolerant crops could boost African yields by 20 to 35 percent in 10 years,” DiNicola said.
“Water is definitely a very serious challenge foragriculture today, and that’s likely to get even more challenging going forward,” DiNicola said. About 218 million people in Africa, or around 30 percent of the total population, are estimated to be suffering from chronic hunger and malnutrition, according to the FAO report last week.
FULL ARTICLE: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601116&sid=aO85e4QscSuE
Alternatives africaines agroécologiques à la révolution verte - Numéro 16
Compilé par Tanya Kerssen
Veuillez envoyer vos suggestions d’articles à tkerssen@foodfirst.org
En prévision du prochain Sommet mondial de l'alimentation (Rome, 16-18 novembre), ce numéro du bulletin Alternatives africaines agroécologiques à la révolution verte souligne les solutions contradictoires à la crise alimentaire mondiale. La première section (Révolution Verte) montre comment la pousser pour une révolution verte en Afrique est menée sur plusieurs fronts par diverses institutions : de grandes sociétés (Monsanto), d’agences d'aide internationale (USAID), d’organisations supposément « à but non lucratif » (AATF) et d’organisations philanthropique (Fondation Gates, l'AGRA). Ces organisations parlent invariablement de la « sécurité alimentaire » un terme qui est fortement contesté par les mouvements sociaux de paysans ainsi que de consommateurs. La sécurité alimentaire se réfère simplement à l’accès à la nourriture, peu importe la qualité de cette nourriture, qui l’a produite, où et dans quelles conditions.
Pendant le Sommet alimentaire mondial de 1996, le mouvement paysan international Vía Campesina a introduit le concept de «souveraineté alimentaire» au débat public sur l'alimentation et l'agriculture. Depuis lors, le concept sert d’une alternative importante au terme néo-libéral« sécurité alimentaire ». (Voir « Qu’est ce que la souveraineté alimentaire ? » http://www.abcburkina.net/content/view/359/1/lang,fr/)
Dans le premier article (« La crise alimentaire oblige à des changements concernant les cultures GM » ci-dessous), Daniel Mataruka, directeur de la Fondation africaine pour les technologies agricoles (AATF), soutient que les cultures GM peuvent remplacer les intrants coûteux comme les engrais, les pesticides et l'irrigation, aidant ainsi les paysans pauvres. Cependant, comme la première révolution verte en Asie et en Amérique latine a démontré, ces semences «miracles» sont largement inefficaces sans de grandes quantités de ces intrants, surtout l'eau et les engrais chimiques. En conséquence, les agriculteurs riches ont été les principaux bénéficiaires et les intrants chimiques ont occasionné une contamination étendue des sols et dessources d’eau. Les semences génétiquement modifiés (GM) ne sont pas différentes. Un rapport de 2008 par les Amis de la Terre a montré que l'utilisation des semences GM avait effectivement causé une grande augmentation dans l’utilisation des pesticides. (Pour un résumé du rapport en français, voir: http://www.foei.org/fr/publications/pdfs/gmcrops2008execsummary.pdf/)
Bien que les partisans des biotechnologies soutiennent que les semences résistantes à la sécheresse aideront aux agriculteurs africains à s'adapter au changement climatique, ce type de technologie n’existe toujours pas. Selon Natalie DiNicola, directrice de la division de la politique publique et du développement durable chez Monsanto, le maïs modifié pour résister à la sécheresse devrait être introduit dans la région subsaharienne en 2017 (voir « Monsanto prévoit un recours accrus aux OGM Afrique » ci-dessous). Plutôt, le mythe des semences résistantes à la sécheresse sert comme stratagème de marketing pour promouvoir l’acceptation de la technologie GM et ouvrir la porte aux semences transgéniques. Jusqu'à présent, les cultures GM en Afrique ont eu de résultats médiocres sinon désastreux.En Afrique du Sud, par exemple, jusqu'à 200 000 hectares de maïs GM de Monsanto n'ont pas réussi à produire des cultures en 2008/2009: http://hebdo.farmradio.org/2009/04/27/1-afrique-du-sud-les-cultures-genetiquement-modifiees-sont-un-%C2%ABechec-de-la-biotechnologie%C2%BB-digital-journal-cape-times-biotech-kenya/
Les articles dans les sections Souveraineté Alimentaireet Agroécologie montrent comment plusieurs organisations de la société civile (organisations paysannes et ONG) se mobilisent contre les cultures GM et en faveur des solutions agroécologiques, contrôlées par les paysans et non par les grandes sociétés. Ceci est la base de la souveraineté alimentaire. Dans la dernière partie de ce bulletin, vous pouvez soutenir la souveraineté alimentaire en signant la « Lettre ouverte pour éradiquer la faim et la malnutrition » composé par des mouvements sociaux et des ONG d’autour du monde, présentée à l’occasion du Sommet mondial de l’alimentation.
I. RÉVOLUTION VERTE
Afrique : la crise alimentaire oblige à des changements concernant les cultures GM
(3 novembre, 2009) Daniel Mataruka, directeur de la Fondation africaine pour les technologies agricoles / African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) basée au Kenya a déclaré, lors d’une interview, que l’Afrique peut avoir une « révolution verte » si le continent est en mesurede « profiter des nouvelles technologies » telles que les outils de sélection moléculaire et la biotechnologie. Répondant à la question de savoir si une révolution verte africaine peut avoir lieu sans ces outils, Mataruka a déclaréque cela était possible, mais qu’une révolution verte serait plus faisable avec la biotechnologie, en raison du faible coût des technologies fondées sur lessemences. « L’un des problèmes avec les agriculteurs africains vient du faitqu’ils sont pauvres », et les technologies fondées sur les semences sont bonmarché, comparé à d’autres investissements agricoles tels que les engrais, lespesticides et les systèmes d’irrigation, a-t-il soutenu.
Par exemple, a-t-il poursuivi, dans la lutte contre les ravageurs, « au lieu d’avoir à appliquer des produits chimiques, on peut intégrer dans la semence la tolérance ou la résistance au [ravageur] enquestion ». Le directeur de l’AATF a discuté de l’engagement cours de la Fondation dans le projet de maïs économe en eau pour l’Afrique (WEMA) ; les essais en champ de doliques génétiquement modifiées (GM) résistantes aux insectes au Nigeria ; et enfin, la mise au point de riz économe en azote ettolérant au sel pour l’Afrique. Mataruka a fait savoir que les essais devariétés de maïs transgénique et conventionnel générés par le projet WEMA sont prévus pour l’Afrique du Sud, le Mozambique, le Kenya, la Tanzanie etl’Ouganda. L’AATF négocie l’accès à des technologies et des travaux brevetés,afin qu’ils soient diffusés à un prix abordable aux agriculteurs africains qui, autrement, n’auraient pas accès à de telles technologies. Selon Mataruka, «l’objectif suprême » de l’AATF est de voir un agriculteur africain prospère eten situation de sécurité alimentaire. Pour consulter le texte de l’interview avec Daniel Mataruka en ligne en version originale anglaise, cliquer sur lelien ci-dessous.
http://www.merid.org/fs-agbiotech/fr/more.php?id=7819
L'article est encore consultable en version originale anglaise à
http://allafrica.com/stories/200910290940.html
Commentaire : AATF a comme mission de promouvoir la diffusion des biotechnologies brevetées dans l'Afrique. Bien qu'elle soit une organisation « à but non lucratif », ses objectifs reflètent celles de ses bailleurs de fonds et membres de son comité consultatif lequel inclut des représentants des sociétés semencières et chimiques telles que Monsanto, Aventis, Dow AgroSciences, Pioneer Hi-Bred, et les entreprises de biotechnologie telles que Emergent Genetics, Inc et Genetic Technologies, Ltd.
La fondation Gates annonce 120 millions de dollars en dons consacrés à l'agriculture
Kathryn Mcconnell, 19 Octobre 2009
Une importante fondation des États-Unis a décidé de fournir des dons se chiffrant à 120 millions de dollars à neuf organisations dans le but d'aider les petits agriculteurs dans les pays en développement. «Aider les petits exploitants agricoles les plus pauvres à accroître leurs récoltes et à les faire parvenir aux marchés est le moyen le plus puissant dont nous disposons pour réduire la faim et la pauvreté dans le monde », a déclaré M. Bill Gates, fondateur et coprésident de la fondation Bill et Melinda Gates. Il s'exprimait lors d'un symposium international sur l'alimentation et l'agriculture tenu le 15 octobre à Des Moines, dans l'Iowa. Ces dons fournis par la fondation Gates cibleront la recherche scientifique visant à améliorer les variétés de légumineuses, de sorgho, de millet et de patates douces.
Les fonds permettront aux gouvernements africains d'avoir accès aux ressources nécessaires pour établir un cadre de réglementation du secteur de la biotechnologie et pour mettre au point des mécanismes d'appui auxpetits agriculteurs, notamment en leur faisant parvenir des informations opportunes par voie de téléphonie mobile et par radio. L'Alliance pour une révolution verte en Afrique a fait savoir qu'elle recevra 15 millions de dollars de la fondation Gates pour aider les agriculteurs de l'Éthiopie, du Ghana, duMali, du Mozambique et de la Tanzanie à améliorer leurs capacités de décideurs en leur offrant de la formation. L'alliance allouera une partie de ces fonds à des instituts de recherche scientifique et établira des banques de données qui permettront de développer une meilleure politique agricole (…)
Pour lire l’article au complet, consultez:
http://fr.allafrica.com/stories/200910210166.html
Voir aussi « L’AGRA lance une initiative stratégique visant à rendre àl’Afrique la maîtrise nécessaire pour modeler des politiques agricolesnationales » :
http://www.afrik.com/article17769.html
Pour un article qui critique le discours de Bill Gates au symposium du Prix Mondial de l’Alimentation, consultez le blog de Food First : http://www.foodfirst.org/en/node/2624
Afrique : Monsanto prévoit unrecours accrus aux OGM Afrique
(20 octobre 2009) La compagnieaméricaine Monsanto Co., le plus grand producteur mondial de semencesgénétiquement modifiées, prévoit que les pays africains accroîtront la plantation de cultures génétiquement modifiées pour renforcer la sécurité alimentaire et le développement économique dans les régions particulièrement affectées par les changements climatiques. Selon Natalie DiNicola, directricede la division de la politique publique et du développement durable chez Monsanto, le Burkina Faso prévoit de doubler, dès l'année prochaine, la superficie de coton résistant aux insectes produit par la compagnie, soit 318766 hectares, contre 129 000 hectares actuellement. La même source indique que le maïs modifié pour résister à la sécheresse devrait être introduit dans la région subsaharienne en 2017. « La technologie des OGM sera de plus en plus acceptée par les pays en développement, qui sont confrontés aux problèmes de famine et de sécheresse », assure un autre expert.
Sénégal: Securité alimentaire- 28 milliards de l'Usaid pour appuyer le monde rural
(7 Octobre 2009) Doté d'un budget de 28 milliards pour les années 2009 et2010, le programme de l'Usaid pour le renforcement de l'agriculture et de lasécurité alimentaire au Sénégal a pour objectif de booster la production agricole, d'améliorer la fluidité des marchés et de lutter contre la pauvreté.
Pour lire l’article au complet, consultez:
http://www.lesoleil.sn/article.php3?id_article=51423
L’USAID lance un programme de 20 millions USD pour l’agriculture au Zimbabwe
APA-Harare (Zimbabwe) L’Agence américaine pour ledéveloppement international (USAID) et la banque Standard Chartered du Zimbabwe ont signé vendredi un accord permettant à ladite banque de disposer d’une ligne de crédits de 20 millions de dollars sur cinq ans. Ce programme d’appui, rendu possible grâce à l’Autorité pour le développement du crédit de l’USAID, est essentiellement orienté vers le secteur agricole et doit permettre à Standard Chartered d’accroître le volume des prêts accordés directement aux agriculteurset aux entreprises qui fournissent des intrants et une assistance technique aux petits producteurs, avec comme objectif final d’accroître la productivité et laproduction.
Pour lire l’article au complet, consultez :
Nouveau partenariat Afrique-Europe initié pourrenforcer l’action parlementaire en appui au développement de l’agriculture en Afrique
L’Alliance pour une révolution verte en Afrique (AGRA) etl’Association des parlementaires européens pour l’Afrique (AWEPA) ont formé un nouveau partenariat pour soutenir les parlementaires africains dans leurs politiques de promotion visant à aider les paysans africains à faire la transition de l’agriculture de subsistance à celle orientée vers le marché, indique ce communiqué de presse.
http://www.merid.org/fs-agbiotech/fr/more.php?id=7777
Pour consulter le communiqué de presse en ligne en version originale anglaise, cliquer sur le lien ci-dessous :
http://www.agra-alliance.org/content/news/detail/1016
Comesa : Le recours à la biotechnologie pour améliorer la production agricole
Les pays membres du Marché commun de l'Afrique orientale et australe (COMESA) veulent promouvoir l'usage des biotechnologies pour stimuler la production agricole dans la région. Selon Stephen Karangizi, secrétaire général adjoint du COMESA, « la biotechnologie a le potentiel d'accroître la production et la productivité dans l'agriculture, la sylviculture et la pêche, et elle pourrait conduire à de meilleurs rendements sur les terres marginales dans les pays qui ne peuvent pas produire suffisamment de céréales pour nourrir leur population », a-t-il déclaré lors d'une réunion consacrée à ce thème.
II. SOUVERAINETÉ ALIMENTAIRE
Burkina Faso: Insécurité alimentaire - Plaidoyer pour des mesures structurelles
Les Organisations de la société civile (OSC) du Burkina Fasoont animé une conférence de presse, hier mardi 27 octobre sur l'insécurité alimentaire. Cette rencontre vise à informer les hommes de média sur les recommandations que les OSC ont prises à l'issue d'un atelier, en prélude au sommet mondial de l'alimentation qui se tiendra du 16 au 18 novembre 2009 à Rome en Italie. (…) Saïdou Eric Ouédraogo, membre du conseil d'administration de la Confédération paysanne du Faso, a souhaité que l'Etat burkinabè renforce l'agriculture familiale.
(…) A l'approche de cet événement, les Organisations de la société civile (OSC) du Burkina ont estimé que les questions liées à lasécurité et à la souveraineté alimentaire ne sauraient être abandonnées aux seules mains des décideurs et des institutions internationales publiques. Elles ont jugé à cet effet que le phénomène s'aggrave compte tenu de la spéculation sur la production agricole et le détournement de cette production dans certain cas vers les agro-carburants. Les OSC burkinabè plaident pour l'adoption de mesures urgentes et structurelles afin de garantir à tous un accès permanent à la nourriture à l'issue du sommet de Rome. Elles ont invité surtout les pays en développement à impliquer les organisations paysannes et la société civile dansl'élaboration, la mise en oeuvre et l'évaluation des politiques de sécurité alimentaire.
Pour lire l’article au complet, consultez :
http://fr.allafrica.com/stories/200910280917.html
AFRIQUE: Combattre le « double fléau » de l’obésité et de la faim
8 octobre 2009 (IRIN) - L’Afrique est confrontée audouble fardeau de l’obésité et de la faim, à l’heure où des millions de personnes adoptent des modes de vie de plus en plus sédentaires dans les villes, et où la crise financière mondiale affecte la sécurité alimentaire des populations rurales, avertissent des nutritionnistes. Le problème de la sous-nutrition reste très préoccupant en Afrique sub-saharienne, où vivent 32 pour cent des populations pauvres du monde. Cependant, les anciens ruraux quiont migré vers les villes ont un régime alimentaire trop gras, ce qui engendre une hausse des taux d’obésité, de diabète, d’hypertension et de préhypertension, d’après les exposés que les délégués ont pu entendre au Congrès international de nutrition (ICN) de Bangkok. « Le problème del’Afrique, c’est que ce continent enregistre les chiffres les plus catastrophiques du monde, aussi bien en termes de sous-nutrition qu’en termes de surnutrition. Nous sommes réellement confrontés à un double fléau », a expliqué Hester Vorster, du Centre d’excellence en nutrition de l'Université du Nord-Ouest en Afrique du Sud, lors de ce congrès, qui prendra fin le 9 octobre.
http://www.irinnews.org/fr/ReportFrench.aspx?ReportId=86504
Afrique du Sud – Les pommes de terre GM ne seront pas commercialisées
(26 octobre 2009) Les cultivateurs sud-africains de pommes de terre ont remporté une victoire contre la biotechnologie. Ils ont fait pression pour empêcher la vente de pommes de terre génétiquement modifiées(GM). En effet, dans une récente décision, les autorités sud-africaines se sont accordées sur la conduite à tenir par rapport aux organismes génétiquement modifiés (…) Des manifestations contre la pomme de terre génétiquement modifiéeont été organisées par le Centre africain pour la biosécurité. Les supermarchés et les restaurants de restauration rapide se sont aussi joints aux manifestations, ainsi que les cultivateurs de pommes de terre. Les autorités sud-africaines régulant les OGM ont refusé la vente des pommes de terre génétiquement modifiées pour des raisons économiques, environnementales et desanté. Selon des rapports de réunion, ces autorités étaient particulièrement préoccupées par un effet négatif potentiel sur le commerce.
Pour lire l’article au complet, consultez:
III. AGRO-ÉCOLOGIE
Sénégal: Plaidoyer pour la promotion d'une agriculture biologique, saine et durable dans la communauté rurale de Diender
(30 Octobre 2009) La fédération des agropasteurs de la communauté rurale de Diender, une localité située à 50 kilomètres de Dakar, a mené à bien sa premièretâche destinée à préserver et sauvegarder son patrimoine foncier, face auxagressions multiples de l'érosion hydrique et éolienne afin de promouvoir une agriculture biologique à coté de celle dite conventionnelle, plus saine et moins coûteuse. Très tôt, joignant l'acte à la parole, ils ont initié, avec l'appui de Enda-Pronat un projet de reboisement précise Ibrahima Guèye,secrétaire général de la Fédération et coordonnateur local des agropasteurs. Cette stratégie a permis de stopper l'érosion et récupérer certaines terres abandonnées du fait de la salinisation. Certains producteurs arrivent même àpenser à la mise en jachère de certaines terres, une autre technique encoresusceptible de rendre les sols beaucoup plus fertiles.
L'implication des communautés et des partenaires au développement et la volonté manifeste des producteurs à se servir des techniques de compostage des fumées organiques mélangées avec des feuilles desnîmes afin de lutter contre l'utilisation abusive des pesticides et produits chimiques, combinées aux techniques de mise en jachère des sols permettent aujourd'hui d'avoir des produits biologiques dans le marché.
http://fr.allafrica.com/stories/200910300979.html
Pour voir des photos de l’agriculture saine et durable àDiender, au Sénégal, voir :
http://allafrica.com/photoessay/Promotion_d_une_agriculture_biologique#photo
Afrique australe – un arbre qui sert d’« usine d’engrais dans les champs »
Il y a plusieurs années, des scientifiques ont remarqué quelque chose d’intéressant dans les champs du Malawi. Un nombre croissant de grands arbres épineux poussaient entre les plantations de sorgho et de mil. Les chercheurs voulaient savoir pourquoi les agriculteurs gardaient ces arbres à ces endroits-là. Quel secret ces agriculteurs avaient-ils découvert? La réponse allait aider les agriculteurs dans d’autres parties de l’Afrique à doubler ou même tripler leurs rendements. L’arbre s’appelle Faidherbia albida. En swahili, onl’appelle Mgunga. En bambara, on l’appelle Balanzan. Il s’agit d’un type d’arbre acacia ayant des propriétés particulières. Cet arbre aide à garder l’azote dans le sol - un élément nutritif important pour de nombreuses cultures.
Dennis Garrity est le directeur général du Centre mondial d’agroforesterie,ou ICRAF. Il constate que les agriculteurs ont une connaissance approfondie decet arbre. Maintenant, l’ICRAF veut combiner les connaissances des agriculteurs aux données scientifiques pour mieux comprendre et promouvoir les arbres Faidherbia. Les avantages du Faidherbia ont été étudiés au Malawi et en Zambie. Dans chaque pays, les scientifiques y ont mesuré les rendements de maïs planté dans les champs où le Faidherbia a été cultivé. Ils les ont comparés avec les rendements de maïs planté dans les champs n’ayant pas d’arbres Faidherbia. Dansles deux pays, les cultures de maïs planté près des arbres Faidherbia ont donné des rendements deux à trois fois plus élevés.
Pour lire l’article au complet, consultez:
IV. POLITIQUES ET ACTIONS
Politiques et actions pour éradiquer la faim et la malnutrition : Signez la lettre ouverte et le résumé du document de travail !
Un milliard de personnes ont faim et ce chiffre augmente.Les femmes sont particulièrement frappées par ce fléau. Il faut de toute urgence changer de politiques et de types d'actions.
Les documents présentés ici fournissent des propositions de politiques et d'actions pour éradiquer la faim et la malnutrition. Ils ont été écrits à partir des expériences et du travail politique récent mais aussi des dernières décennies des mouvements sociaux, des organisations non gouvernementales (ONG) et de bien d'autres acteurs de part lemonde. Le cadre de la souveraineté alimentaire, qui intègre le droit fondamental à une alimentation adaptée en constitue le fondement.
Nous invitons les organisations et les individus à signer la lettre ouverte et le résumé qui a été fait du document de travail. Ces documents seront présentés lors du Sommet Mondial sur la Sécurité alimentairedu 16 au 18 Novembre prochain en même temps que le document de travail complet.
Signez la lettre ouverte et le résumé du document detravail en visitant :
http://www.eradicatehunger.org/fr/home (Vous pouvez signer en tant qu'organisation ou comme individu)
Pour lire la lettre ouverte et le résumé, voir :
http://www.eradicatehunger.org/fr/open-letter
Pour télécharger l'ensemble du document de travail (enformat PDF), voir :
http://www.eradicatehunger.org/pdf/Anti-hungerdocFR_0611_2009.pdf
Pour la liste des membres du comité de rédaction,voir :
http://www.eradicatehunger.org/fr/le-comite-de-redaction
Contacter: info@eradicatehunger.org
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