1. Farmer First Revisited 12 – 14 December 2007 at the Institute of Development Studies, Brighton, UK Presentation, Theme 2c, Creating Demand and Increasing Accountability: The Role of Farmers’ Organisations Rapporteur’s summary of the discussion

2. Session 2c: Creating demand and increasing accountability: the role of farmers’ organisations

3. How important is agricultural research for FOs? 1.Formal research is detached from FOs 2.FOs are doing their own research 3.FOs interested in development; formal research often not relevant for these needs 4.FOs unable to demand what they need from formal research 5.FOs often not aware of different types of research possible; little understanding of participatory action research (PAR) 6.But, those involved in PAR seem to find it valuable

4. What are the roles of FOs in agricultural innovation systems and how can they play these roles? Very high expectations about all the roles that FOs should be playing in innovation systems, e.g. catalytic roles, voicing demand, linking to resources, negotiation, monitoring, increasing accountability of public services etc etc Problems with inclusiveness, representation and accountability of leadership to own members may need to be addressed first Capacity building in these respects may be needed, depending on type and degree of maturity of the FO

5. What role(s) should FOs have with regard to financing agricultural research and governing research funds? Example from China: FO handling own research funds and hiring in scientists from research centres and universities as the farmers see fit Gives farmers ultimate control over decisions about research topics and methods

6. How can FOs make the voices of marginalised farmers heard - in their own organisations and - in policy platforms related to ARD? Farmers voices from local level are normally being lost at national level; however in theory various paths for smallholder farmer voices to be heard: 1. Formal FOs up to global level 2. Social movements 3. Informal networking and various other informal means of communication, e.g. “voice chain” from grassroots to high government levels Coming from formal organisations, we tend to focus on such structures, and not to be aware of the more informal ways of influence Learn from good practices of bringing smallholder voices to national level, e.g. Bolivia, Mali and Kenya