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The electronic version of this document has been prepared at the Fourth
World Conference on Women by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
in collaboration with the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women
Secretariat.
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AS WRITTEN


STATEMENT BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS

TO THE FOURTH WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN
Beijing, China, 4 -15 September 1995


"Women farmers; equal partners in agriculture, promoters of quality and
sustainable development"

It is my privilege to address this Fourth World Conference on Women on
behalf of the International Federation of Agricultural Producers which
is the recognized worldwide organization of farmers. There are three
issues to which I would like to draw your attention:

- the importance of agriculture,- the role of women farmers,- the
functions of farmers organizations in enhancing the status and
conditions of women farmers.

AGRICULTURE occupies one third of the land surface of the Earth and is
the central activity for much of the world' s population. This vital
primary sector, however, does not receive all the attention it deserves;
development assistance for agriculture in developing countries has been
sharply reduced during the last decade; and public expenditure on rural
infrastructure is only a small share of the total spent on
infrastructure in general.

In this difficult and often disadvantaged sector, women are important
actors; not only in developing countries where they may even represent
the large majority of the working population, but also in industrialized
countries where women are the backbone of the family farms . WOMEN
FARMERS may be poor and even illiterate but they are never ignorant, as
they possess a wealth of useful indigenous knowledge, skills and
practice. We wish to take this opportunity to emphasize with pride the
valuable role of women farmers - be it at subsistence or at the most
progressive entrepreneurial level

- as producers of food and renewable raw material,

- as managers of natural resources and custodians of the environment,

- as animators of rural communities,

- as moral and material supporters of their families, and

- as agents for transmitting traditional knowledge and values.

Unfortunately, in all too many cases farming women have no personal
identity as farmers and their role is often undervalued or simply
ignored. For this reason, women farmers’ representatives, in a recent
IFAP meeting, decided to launch a worldwide Campaign for the recognition
of the professional status of women farmers. Such recognition would have
far-reaching implications, such as: access to land and other means of
production, inheritance of property, credit, training and information,
marketing and support services, personal social security rights and
membership in agricultural organizations. Recognition is of vital
importance to women farmers in developing countries, as well as in many
industrialized countries. It is essential for achieving food security,
sustainable development and welfare .

The implementation of the Campaign will entail joint efforts by all
actors, and we would like to urge governments and the international
community to provide their support in a coordinated manner, through well
conceived integrated programmes, aiming at self-reliance and
sustainability

In the present circumstances of restructuring, privatization and
liberalization, it is more vital than ever for women farmers to organize
themselves in order to:

- channel their views in a coordinated manner to appropriate government
bodies ;

- be represented at decision-making levels and influence policies and
planning;

- undertake joint self-help initiatives, and - make effective alliances.

IFAP is engaged in promoting greater involvement of women, with full
rights, including in decision-making positions at all levels, in
agricultural organizations, be they farmers’ unions, cooperatives or
chambers of agriculture.

FARMERS' ORGANIZATIONSONS can play a key role in enhancing the position
of women, in improving their income and mainstreaming their interests.
The participation of women in farmers' organizations will facilitate the
necessary change in attitudes and collaboration with male partners; it
will also favour the emergence of women farm leaders at local and higher
levels. This will require the strengthening of farmers ' organizations,
so that they can better serve the interests of all farmers, especially
low income and women farmers.

IFAP and the farming community it represents, working alongside
governments and intergovernmental organizations, can make an important
contribution to the achievement of the goals of the Conference :
Equality, Development and Peace for all.