By Raymond Enoch.
The fourth meeting of the African National Committees for Family Farming (NCFFs) opens Today Tuesday 25th October, 2022 in Saly/Mbour Dakar, Senegal.
The meeting which is co-organized by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the International Land Coalition in Africa (ILC Africa) with support of the Basque Development Cooperation (AVCD).
President of National Council for the Rural Cooperation (Councel National de Concertation ET des Ruraux, (CNCR) Mr. Babacar Diop in his welcome address said that the work of the NCFF in Senegal and Africa has been elaborated to reflect the goals of UNDFF 2019-2028.
On behalf of the CNCR He welcomed participants to the fourth African National Committees for Family Farming and said that it’s an opportunity to deepen the knowledge and experience gathered over the years to impact on the UN decade for family.
elen fromehe NCFFs) opens todayin her remarks, representative of the World Rural Forum Global Director, Belen Citoler said that the meeting is critical going forward in the implemention of the United Nations Decade for Family Farming considering the potential role family farmers play.
She explained that, there are twenty-three NCFFs that are playing a great role in consolidating on the gains of the United Nations Decade for Family Farming
On her part, the programme officer of the International Land Coalition in Africa Marie Chantal Mukagashugi urged participants to understand the workings of the International Land Coalition adding that the organization has been supporting the work of the UNDFF 2019-2028 through its work and partnership with the World Rural Forum.
She reiterated the commitment of the ILC Africa to the achievements of the objectives of the decade for Family Farming.
Service Liaison Officer and Head of Communications FAO Sub-Regional Office for West Africa and the Sahel Mr. Mehdi Drissi who shared the good will message of the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations reiterated the commitment of the FAO to the work of NCFFs in promoting United Nations Decade for Family Farming 2019-2028.
He charged the participants to take into context the realities of the food systems, climate change and global food policies today in the course of their work.
Touching on the Global Food systems, he called on participants to take into social and economic context as strategies are put in place to realize the work that lay ahead.
According to him, “placing family farming in the context of the decade, we only hope to see the positive outcomes of the decade”
Drissi who called for an inclusive system during the decade assured that FAO is confident the decade would be a good platform for the attainment of the set objectives urged participants to continue to share knowledge and deepen their actions both at the country and regional levels.
Also speaking, the representative of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in West Africa and the Sahel Mr. Matteo Marchisio said that IFAD mandate is working on promoting Agriculture and its engagement on the UNDFF 20219-2028, with FAO it has created a unique opportunity for IFAD to continue to support work of the decade.
He lauded the effort of the World Rural Form (WRF) in promoting the objectives of the family farming saying the partnership has resulted in the work seen today on the decade for family farming.
Mr. Mousa Sow, Director de Cabinet NAERSA Ministry who represented the government of Senegal said that Agriculture in Senegal is a peasant dominated activity a such, family farming is central in the system of food production and climate change.
He appreciate4 the United Nations for declaring the Decade for Family Farming 2019-2028 adding that the Government of Senegal recognizes the role of NCFF and would continue to support the process.
The workshop which is a four day extensive deliberations on the implementation of the United Nation Decade for Family Farming in Africa is expected end on the 29th of October, 2022.
