Proposals on aRegional Agri Trade AgendaAsian Farmers Association (AFA) APF 6 Hanoi,Viet NamWS on Regl Eco Integration and TradeSept 25, 2010

Introduction AFA as an alliance of FOsPeasant agenda includes : -fair and just treatment for farmers -promotion of food security -study of alternatives for economic globalization 2008: research on regional trade agenda

Agriculture in ASEAN

Substantial percentages of land resources in many countries in ASEAN are devoted to agricultural productionIndoesia has the biggest agricultural area, followed by Thailand and the Philippines. Source: ASEAN Database

Agriculture is an important source of income and livelihood in many ASEAN countries Source: FAOSTAT

Share of agricultural exports to total exports is generally small for many ASEAN countriesSource: ASEAN Statistical Pocketbook

Common issues among 5 ASEAN countriesPoor investment in agriculture, especially for important services such as irrigation, credit support, marketing, rural infrastructure, among others

Common issues among 5 ASEAN countries Lack of farmers capability to fully and directly benefit from tradeLack of capability to effectively compete in the international market

Common issues among 5 ASEAN countriesIncreased pressure to adopt unsustainable farm production technologies to meet the quantity and quality requirements of export markets

Common issues among 5 ASEAN countriesLack of farmers participation in agriculture and trade policy making, including in the forging of trade agreements

General Critique of ASEAN FTAsFTAs provisions for sensitive products are not sufficient to safeguard sectors important to developing countrys food security and poverty alleviation objectivesFTA provision on special safeguard measures limited by WTO parametersFTAs do not address the issue of trade distorting domestic support and subsidies SPS setting is based on Western standards

Agri Trade Agenda to ASEAN1. Trade agreements that: protects sensitive sectors from liberalization;provides sufficient safeguard measures and remedies;Levels the playing field through removal of trade distorting subsidies 2. Development of an ASEAN based SPS

Agri Trade Agenda to ASEAN3. Adoption of an ASEAN Agricultural Policy and the creation of an ASEAN Agricultural Development Fund 4. Establishment and Implementation of an ASEAN Rice Reserve 5. Creation and Recognition of an Agricultural Producers Advisory Council to the ASEAN

Strategies-Marketing Formation, organizing, federating, strengthening of commodity based producers associations/cooperatives Development and improvement of traditional, local markets including wholesale markets owned and managed by local governments in partnership with organized small scale food producersEnhancement of the position of small scale farmers in sustainable agri food value chain to become a significant player Claim making for policies, support services and rural infrastructure basic for productivity (security of land tenure, irrigation, production capital, farm to market roads, crop insurance, market information) Networking for advocacy and knowledge sharing

Thank you for your attention

*AFA Regional Consultation on Agritrade Agenda, Feb 23-24, v3Regional Trade Agenda1) AFA is an alliance of national farmers organization, with membership in 8 countries, including five ASEAN countries. *AFA Regional Consultation on Agritrade Agenda, Feb 23-24, v3Regional Trade Agenda*AFA Regional Consultation on Agritrade Agenda, Feb 23-24, v3Regional Trade Agenda*AFA Regional Consultation on Agritrade Agenda, Feb 23-24, v3Regional Trade Agenda*AFA Regional Consultation on Agritrade Agenda, Feb 23-24, v3Regional Trade Agenda*AFA Regional Consultation on Agritrade Agenda, Feb 23-24, v3Regional Trade Agenda*AFA Regional Consultation on Agritrade Agenda, Feb 23-24, v3Regional Trade Agenda*AFA Regional Consultation on Agritrade Agenda, Feb 23-24, v3Regional Trade Agenda*AFA Regional Consultation on Agritrade Agenda, Feb 23-24, v3Regional Trade Agenda*AFA Regional Consultation on Agritrade Agenda, Feb 23-24, v3Regional Trade Agenda