Activities

  
 

 

World FARMERs' CONGRESS

World Farmers' Organizations Elect New IFAP Executive: Ajay Vashee from Zambia takes the Helm 

At its 38th World Farmers' Congress, the International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP) elected the IFAP President, three Vice-Presidents, a Treasurer, the twenty-one members of the Executive Committee, as well as the Chairs of IFAP's committees and working groups. For the first time in IFAP's sixty-two year history, a representative from a developing country was elected President. Ajay Vashee, farm leader, President of SACAU, a regional farmers' organization for Southern Africa and former President of the Zambian National Farmers' Union, takes the helm of IFAP with a vision that puts farmers' perspectives at the centre of global politics. Three Vice-Presidents and a Treasurer, who constitute the Bureau, will assist him in the many upcoming tasks: Elisabeth Gauffin from Sweden, Raul Montemayor from the Philippines, Carlos Simancas from Colombia and Peter Gaemelke from Denmark as Treasurer. Together they will make sure that farmers' organizations worldwide are united under the democratic umbrella of IFAP.

IFAP World Farmers' Congress documents and information are available on the IFAP website, including pictures and video links. Visit www.ifap.org for more information.

Source: IFAP press release, 9th of June

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IFAP young farmers meeting

On the 3rd of June, young farmers from all over the world met in order to discuss the actual agricultural and food situation in the world and specific problems they are facing in the current situation. CEJA Vice-President Pieter van Oost presented CEJA’s activities and reflected on possible cooperation of young farmers on European as well as global level. His PowerPoint presentation can be found here. A summary of the ideas developed during the World Congress of Young Farmers in Argentina last year, a research projects on farmers’ organisation and the presentation of Agricord’s activities gave further input to working groups in the afternoon. The groups reflected on the following questions: “What are the crucial conditions for food security while being a profitable farmer?” and “What kind of tools in agriculture policy we need to set up young farmers?” and came up with many interesting ideas. Some of them are taken up in the final declaration of the meeting that you can consult in English, French and Spanish by clicking on the corresponding language. Don’t hesitate to make use of this declaration but keep us informed on it, please.

 

Last but not least, the new Presidency of the IFAP Young Farmers’ Committee was elected and two active CEJA members are now in the IFAP board: Kati Partanen from Finland is the new President of the Young Farmers’ Committee and Samuel Maréchal from France was elected as one of the three Vice-Presidents. The other two are Virginia San Martin from Uruguay and Daniel Moronga from Kenya.

For the final declaration please click here [EN], [FR], [ES]

Vice-President Laurent Fischer speaks during Development Cooperation Committee

The first CEJA member travelling to Poland was Vice-President Laurent Fischer who spoke during the meeting of the IFAP Development Cooperation Committee (DCC) on the 31st of May. He underlined that the presence of young farmers during this meeting was very important because, in contrast to the European situation, young people make up the largest part of the farming population in many developing countries. However, during the meeting of the DCC only three young farmers were present to remind the other participants that agriculture only has a future if young farmers receive more support, especially concerning agricultural capacities in developing countries. A young farmer from Uganda said that, in his country, only 1 young farmer out of 10 is staying in rural areas while the others move to cities. Summing up his impressions on the meeting and the numerous exchanges with colleagues, Laurent Fischer stated that “young farmers have the same problems with installation everywhere, just at different levels. We need to intensify our exchanges in order to tackle these problems together.” You can find his speech French by clicking here.

 

 

Click here for many pictures of the event!