Nelly Bassily | November 8, 2010
The Pan African Farmers Forum (known as PAFFO) was formally launched in Malawi in late October. PAFFO is made up of five regional farmers’ associations from across Africa. The first general assembly included representatives of farmers’ groups from most African countries.
PAFFO is Africa’s first continent-wide farmers’ organization. It aims to ensure that farmers have a greater say in the issues that really matter to them at national and continental levels. The organization will seek to ensure that farmers’ interests, needs and aspirations are acted upon when agricultural development policies for Africa are formulated.
Elisabeth Atangana is the newly elected President of PAFFO. During a conference of African agricultural ministers, Ms. Atangana called on all states to “… improve the quality of support and put in place policies to support agricultural producers.” She encouraged all states to respect the commitment made in Maputo. In 2003, African governments agreed to invest 10 percent of their budgets in agriculture and rural development. Few have kept that promise.
Ms. Atangana said that PAFFO is committed to “ensuring our contribution to food security and self-sufficiency in Africa.”
Notes to broadcasters
PAFFO is made up of five regional farmers’ organizations: the network of Farmers and Agricultural Producers’ Organizations of West Africa (ROPPA), the Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU), the East African Farmers Federation (EAFF), the Maghrebian Farmers Union (UMAGRI) and the Sub-regional Platform of Farmers Organizations in Central Africa (PROPAC).
PAFFO embraces a vision of agriculture that is favourable to family farmers:
-One that guarantees food, employment and revenue to family farmers in a sustainable manner;
-One that provides and adds value to products for industrial purposes;
-One that generates solidarity and social security;
-One that adds value to our traditional knowledge and experiences;
-One that ensures equitable access to productive resources and sustainable management of natural resources.
Proceedings from PAFFO’s general assembly, and other information on PAFFO, is currently hosted on the East African Farmers Federation website: http://eaffu.org/go/.