Returning farmers to the centre of policy decisions is fundamental to sustainable development. Governments, businesses, scientists and civil society groups must focus attention on the source of our food security. All these groups must work together to enable the many millions of farm families, especially smallholders, to grow more crops sustainably through effective markets, more collaborative research and committed knowledge sharing.
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Here are six interlinked imperatives for sustainable development :
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1. Safe guard Natural Resources : |
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Land management should be improved through the widespread adoption of sustainable practices of land use.
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- Conservation agriculture can be used to prevent soil erosion and land degradation
- Manage watersheds and water use more efficiently
- Promote a sound management of chemical substances, including through the improvement of health and safety conditions for agricultural workers.
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While much of the knowledge needed to improve global agriculture already exists, including within remote indigenous communities, it often does not reach those farmers that could benefit most.
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- Increase the level of education on crop and natural resource management for farmers and agricultural workers, including women.
- Promote the development of village-based knowledge centres.
- Establish open and transparent two-way exchanges that capture the ‘voice of the farmer’ in the process of policy formulation and implementation.
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| 3. Build local access and capacity : |
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Fundamental resources should be available to farmers, to help them manage their production process more reliably and at less cost.
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Secure access to land and water resources,
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Provide rural access to microfinance services, especially to microcredit.
- Build infrastructure – particularly roads and ports – to make supplies available to farmers.
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Establish training programs in infrastructure management, operations and maintenance for local and regional settings
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Improve access to agricultural inputs and services, including mechanical tools, seeds, fertilizers, and crop protection materials.
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Invest in bioenergy where it contributes to energy security and to rural development.
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20-40% of crop yields are lost because of inadequate pre- and post-harvest support. Likewise, vast quantities of food are squandered during production and consumption phases of the food chain.
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- Build local storage facilities and transportation mechanisms, including cold chain storage for food preservation.
- Localise the application of agronomic knowledge, pest-identification and meteorological information.
- Educate the public on sustainable consumption and production needs and behaviours, including on the need to reduce food waste.
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| 5. Enable access to markets : |
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Farmers need to be able to get their products to market and receive equitable price treatment when they do.
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Provide access to up-to-date market pricing information
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Develop well functioning markets through transparent information, fair prices, sound infrastructure and reduced speculation
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Encourage co-operative approaches to marketing for smallholders
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Improve smallholder farmers’ marketing skills through entrepreneurship training
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Reduce market distortions to improve opportunities for all strata of agriculture worldwide
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| 6. Prioritise research imperatives : |
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| Achieving sustainable agriculture requires intensified, continuous research, prioritising locally relevant crops, stewardship techniques, and adaptation to climate change. |
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Conduct agronomic research on issues of water, soil fertility, post-harvest losses, climate change, and alternative uses for by-products.
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Conduct research into crop varieties needed by the poorest and most vulnerable regions.
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Promote farmer-centred research in accordance with their needs.
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Improved productivity through the responsible use of science and technology.
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Establish public-private research collaboration around integrated solutions.
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Increase investments from governments and business toward relevant R&D.
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Investigate alternative uses for agriculture-based by-products along the value chain.
Farming First- Principles KRSR/251009 |
