SEWA’s Approach on small Farm holders and Forest Producers Regional conference on Forest and Farm Producer Organizations (FFPOs) From users to producers: Scaling up FFPOs businesses to implement Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in climate resilient landscapes SEWA’s Approach on small Farm holders and Forest Producers Thingaha Hotel, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, Monday 20 to Wednesday 22 November, 2017

Self Employed Women’s Association Established in 1972 for twin goals Full employment & Self Reliance 1.9 million poor women workers 2/3 of members from rural areas : 54% farmers Organizing Collective organized strength to influence policy making Capacity Building To stay competitive in the market Strategy of Economic Empowerment SEWA’s Integrated Approach for addressing poverty Social Security Mitigation of stress crisis & chronic health Problems to protect erosion of income and assets Capital Formation Encouraging Enterprise Ownership Individually and collectively

Challenges of Small/ Marginal farmers and Forest producers Farmer remains hungry. Main challenges: Food, fodder, water and sustainable employment Adverse effect of climate change The characteristics of 60% of small marginal farmers Unorganized In access to information and capacity building In access to agricultural inputs In access to productive tools and equipment Lower bargaining power In access to Financial services In access to Market linkages Prone to worst effect due to climate change effects and disasters

Feminise our Forest and Agriculture Combined strategy of organising, campaigning, Policy Advocacy, skill building and value chain support Right to raise nursery, collect forest produce, farm in forest Right to sale gum on open market Access to Agriculture University, horticulture Dept. Skill building : raise income (technical, value addition, managerial) Medicinal nursery -birth of Ayush Board Improving green cover by Plantation awareness Anubandh : Developing local economy through new supplementary income generating activities – seed collection, value added products

Innovation Organised small marginal farmers and landless labourer Registered cooperative of uneducated farmers Access to government land (10 acres) for 30yr Organic farm, forest development, climate promotion and eco tourism centre Linkages with Forestry department for nursery and forest development Replication in other areas in two other districts

Lesson Learnt Organised strength is a surest way to combat poverty Registered entity helps to bring out voice, visibility and actions are then validated Need to bring the technology to make agro forestry competitive and attract new generation Farm as enterprise Value chain approach Knowledge Sharing through exposure and training

Recommendations Motivating the second generation of the farmers to take up agriculture as a sustainable livelihood. Collective and contract farming for small holders Establish a strong supply chain which would ensure local procurement and distribution. Farmer’s groups capacity building and provision of access

Thank you