On 4-6 March, Maris Gavino, WOCAN Liaison in Rome, discussed the role of women and young farmers in family farming as a panelist during the Global Forum and Exposition on Family Farming (GFEFF) in Budapest, Hungary. The Forum was organized jointly by the Ministry of Rural Development of Hungary and FAO. Maris presented the best practices of the WLCAN (Women Leadership Circles in Agricultural and Natural Resource Manamgement) during the panel discussion number 3 on the role of women in family farming. In addition she spoke of the importance of the providing attractive economic opportunities and enabling environment for the youth in order to reverse the trends of them distancing themselves from rural areas and from farming activities. Another very important sustainable and strategic policy intervention that she pointed out is to have the youth as active participants in farmers’ organizations or producer cooperatives.
Her conclusion ‘Invest in today’s young farmers for tomorrow’s food security’ was carried forward as one of the key messages of the panel to the GFEFF.
At the GFEFF, Ms. Esther Penunia, Executive Director, Asian Farmers’ Association and WOCAN member, was appointed by FAO Director General, Jose’ Graziano da Silva, as Special Ambassador of the International Year of Family Farming in Asia and the Pacific.
Please visit the GFEFF website: www.familyfarming.kormany.hu