'We shall show the way'

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Date Issued
2002
Language
en
Type
News Item
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Open Access
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Citation
CTA. 2002. 'We shall show the way'. Spore 101. CTA, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Permanent link to cite or share this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10568/47708
External link to download this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10568/99605
Abstract/Description
We shall show the waySmall farmers should be seen, and heard, in any discussion of sustainable agriculture. That was the message emanating from the Shaft 17 training centre in Johannesburg in August/September 2002, where more than 300 members of...
Notes
We shall show the way Small farmers should be seen, and heard, in any discussion of sustainable agriculture. That was the message emanating from the Shaft 17 training centre in Johannesburg in August/September 2002, where more than 300 members of farmers organisations had gathered at a Farmers Convergence as part of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD). With an estimated total of 30,000 people attending the WSSD and its many events from outside the region, the 300 people in Shaft 17 could just start to get noticed. Add on at least another 300 delegates of farmers organisations at other related events, and the front line of agriculture had a tangible presence at the summit not to mention the equally numerous agricultural scientists, input companies, traders and service providers. The high visibility of small farmers was thanks largely to the southern Africa PELUM association which had prepared their participation for years. Their advocates, particularly some journalists, behaved as if controversy and opposition are the way forward. The farmers themselves charmed their way into many new partnerships, and secured their place as equals in top-level debates across town at the United Nations events. Their basic statement makes the point: 'We are here to celebrate farming and fishing as a culture our way of life as small-scale farmers, we have some answers we shall show the way.'
Organizations Affiliated to the Authors
Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation
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