1. 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

2. Self Employed Women’s Association
Established in 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. Thank you