Impact of financial crisis to small scale men and women farmers in SEA countries Mr. Mudzakkir Vice Chairperson, AFA

Agri ‘s vital role in food, livelihood security and poverty alleviation • GDP contribution: 10.1 (Thailand-32.9% (Cambodia) • Agri is source of basic food of ASEAN people • Significant number of people in rural areas • Majority in rural areas engaged in agriculture • Small scale men and women farmers form majority of poor in many ASEAN countries .

Our understanding of financial crisis • The crisis originated in USA • Due to unregulated financial markets • Happened during food crisis and climate change effects • Significantly caused by excessive speculation in the commodities markets

Effects of financial crisis • Demand for traditional export agri products dropped • Food price volatility • Problems with contract farming • Less income, high food prices and high price of inputs • Migrant workers out of jobs too

How do we cope?

• Educate farmers about economic household management • Ensure men and women farmers’ security to land, water, seeds resources • Practice diversified, sustainable agriculture , in a “self sufficiency approach” • Organize commodity based clusters for cooperative production and marketing of safe, organic products

Main recommendations • Identify key social protection measures for farmers and put adequate resources to implement them • Increased investments for the production and marketing of sustainable agri crops owned, controlled, managed by small men and women farmers • Increased partnership between farmers, NGOs, government organizations

thank you for listening