Costa Rica organizes the First National Meeting on Farmers’ Rights

Costa Rica organizes the First National Meeting on Farmers’ Rights

Costa Rica will organize, with the technical support of the Joint Capacity Building Programme on Farmers’ Rights of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (International Treaty), the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR) and other organizations, the First National Meeting on Farmers’ Rights to be held on 11 October 2016 in San José de Costa Rica.

The event is possible thanks to the collaboration of the “Mesa Nacional Campesina”, the National Seed Office and the Advisory Commission on Land Degradation, and the support of the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) Small Grant Programme, and a number of other organizations working on the Implementation of Farmers’ Rights, including the Office of FAO in Costa Rica.

The objectives of the First National Meeting are to:

  • improve the understanding of Farmers’ Rights under the International Treaty among smallholder farmers, decision makers and relevant stakeholders; and
  • define a workplan to improve the implementation of Farmers’ Rights in Costa Rica

Invited participants belong to different institutions and stakeholder groups in Costa Rica, including decision makers, representatives and staff from the ministries of agriculture and environment, non-governmental organizations, farmers’ organizations, women farmers’ organizations; international organizations, research institutions and academia, among others.

The partnership between GEF Small Grant Programme and the Joint Capacity Building Programme on the Implementation of Farmers’ Rights suppports the organization of national meetings on Farmers’ Rights. With a view to foster understanding, recognition and implementation of Farmers’ Rights in the framework of the International Treaty, and highlights their relevance to enhance and promote in situ conservation and on-farm management activities. The Programme also contributes to food and nutrition security, adaptation to climate change and the improvement of the livelihood of the most vulnerable population.

This national event will benefit from the discussions of the Global Consultation on Farmers’ Rights that the Governments of Norway and Indonesia have announced to take place in Bali, Indonesia, from 27 to 30 September 2016.

To learn more about what GFAR and Partners are working on in the area of Farmers' Rights, click here!

 

Photo credit: www.columbia.co.cr