2nd AMAF-Private Sector Dialogue on Food Security
Vientiane, Lao PDR
September 27, 2012
From the summary of issues and recommendations that emerged during the Bangkok Preparatory Workshop, the following is a summary of possible inputs from the CSO delegation. Based on this reference document, and in the context of its on-going policy engagement with ASEAN, the CSO delegation shall meet separately on September 26 prior to the 2nd AMAF-PPD to prepare its collective message, suited to a dialogue format advised by the organizers of the PPD.
Cross-cutting Recommendations
1. Developing a responsive mechanism for regular dialogue between the Private Sector and AMAF.
There was agreement to further develop the framework and mechanism for a regular dialogue between the Private Sector and AMAF. Private businesses and CSOs have the intent and willingness to improve the dialogue process with the government but this will require a proper channel and mechanism, especially at the national level. The dialogue mechanism will help in creating a more integrated/comprehensive approach involving relevant sectors in addressing priority issues they themselves identify.
An effective PPD mechanism at the national level will prepare national stakeholders in consolidating their respective and collective views and recommendations prior to the regional ASEAN AMAF-PPD.
More concretely, the 2nd AMAF-PPD should be followed up by selected national consultations to deepen the discussions or debates on priority issues or action areas identified in the Bangkok Preparatory Workshop and the Lao PPD. The national PPDs should also serve as venue for regular dialogues on priority or urgent issues in-between the ASEAN PPD.
2. Institutionalization of Space for Small Farmers/Producers Participation.
(a reiteration of CSO calls during 1st AMAF-PPD)
Creation of an ASEAN Small Farmers/Producers Council composed of representatives from small farmers and fishers/ producers organizations in ASEAN Member States. The Council shall provide advise and inputs to ASEAN in dealing with issues that concern smallholder agriculture. It will serve as a platform for dialogue, consultation, and cooperation among national and regional Farmers/Producers' Organizations to build their capacities in dealing with both opportunities and challenges resulting from the ASEAN economic integration.
A regular ASEAN Farmers' Forum in conjunction with an AMAF meeting, inspired by the Global Farmers' Forum supported by IFAD, where many Asean FOs are participating, can be explored as another concrete mechanism to strengthen policy dialogue between and among FOs and ASEAN and private businesses.
3. ASEAN as a Learning Hub for smallholder agriculture development
As a regional body, ASEAN should strengthen its role in facilitating and supporting regional knowledge and learning exchanges on priority areas for action, as follows:
- Farmer –private sector partnership models
- Women Empowerment in Agribusiness
- Enabling legal frameworks (cooperative laws, social credit policy, organic agriculture act)
- Land use and Land Reform Models
- Sustainable Agriculture Technologies
- Post-harvest management
- Crop insurance and other Social Protection Programs for Small Farmers
- Regional Standards – safeguards and mechanisms
4. ASEAN Adoption and Promotion of International Guidelines/Treaties
ASEAN should strengthen its role in monitoring adherence to and in translating international guidelines, treaties, mandates into regional guidelines towards a more sustainable agricultural development. Some of the priority issues include:
- Voluntary Guideline on responsible governance of Land tenure, forest, fisheries in the context of national food security
- Principles for responsible agricultural investment that enhance food security and nutrition
- International Year of Cooperatives (2012) in relation to the workshop calls to strengthen agricultural cooperatives and the International Year of Family Farming (2014) in relation to the recommendations to promote and support smallholder agriculture.
5. ASEAN to develop Common standards and Monitoring system, to protect and prepare smallholder agriculture in the context of the ASEAN 2015 integration and also to strengthen opportunities for intra-regional trade. Some of the proposed systems include:
- Good aquaculture practices
- Land monitoring (land use, land rights)
- Sustainability Reporting Guideline (developed by the Global Reporting Initiative) as a collaboration between private business and CSOs
- Standards for Sustainable Agricultural Investments
The thematic issues identified by the CSOs can be annexed to this cross-cutting summary input. These are starting points for the follow through PPD at the national levels.
The CSOs are encouraged to discuss these proposals with their respective national SOM-AMAF focal points, prior to the 2nd PPD and after Vientiane. The SOM-AMAF Focal points are also enjoined to be pro-active in creating venues for dialogues at the national level and for AMAF and ASEAN to provide the necessary mandate and conducive environment that will harness long-term partnerships at the national and regional levels.
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