The Struggle for Food Sovereignty and Land In Africa

From KLAMediaWiki

TITLE: The Struggle For Food Sovereignity And Land In Africa

TIME: 8:30 - 11:00 am

ORGANIZERS: La Via Campesina

SPEAKERS AND THEIR PROFILES:

• Jones Muleya Hanchinda - Zambia

• Luisa Luis - Mozambique

• Victor Nzuzi - Democratic Republic of Congo

• Claude Girot - France

All of these are farmers

SUMMMARY

Most of the struggles are similar across the continent. Agriculture is a way of life and land is the only inheritance that we own and if commercialized, then the rights of the peasants to feed themselves are denied.

People pushing for commercialization are in the business and have no concern for the poor who have no money. The argument that commercialization will lead to economic development is not true because many examples of those countries who have undertaken those reforms such as South Korea and Taiwan have developed much faster, are not valid generally.

Countries with booming economy like Mexico and Brazil, poverty is growing fast and the situation of the poor people is deteriorating. Peasants should have their land to become self-reliant.

If the farmers have access to good framework conditions, like affordable credits, good seeds, agricultural research and other agricultural inputs, access to marketing facilities and if not overtaxed by the government their yield per hectare can be higher.

There is no natural law which stipulates that only huge farms can produce enough food.

WAY FORWARD

• Let’s unite and fight together to stop commercialization of the land

• Let’s participate in the information network exchange information and invite people to participate

• Let’s disseminate information and publications on the struggle for food sovereignty and land

• Assist peasant movements in specific countries

• Let’s internationalize our movement so as to achieve the gaol for the fight for land and food production in order to turn women and men peasants into real subjects of the economic, social and political development of society.

• Let’s empower them so that we can produce healthy food for all, free from genetic manipulation

Reporter:

Margaret Wanambisi