What do we share in common?

1. Dear Friends INDIA-AFRICA What do we share in common?

2. Rich Tradition & Culture

3. Rich Biodiversity

4. Resilient and Happy Communities Can they be considered as our competitive advantage???

5. Growing Population 1.25 billion – Indian population – 70% rural Focusing on India…… challenges are Increasing poverty 32.7% of the total Indian population below poverty line

6. Increasing Hunger & Malnourishment One in three malnourished children worldwide are found In India 67th in Hunger Index (IFPRI); 21 (HDI)

7. Grond realities, Rural majority dependent on Farming Sector Predominantly family farming 60% rainfed farming 80% small farmers

8. Policy Industry Services • Land Grabs • Farm land diverted to other purposes Agriculture – Supporting majority rural livelihoods Another reality is growing competition for Limited Natural Resources

9. 54 BILLIONAIRES enjoy 1/3rd of the GDP • 800 million less than ½ a dollar per day All leading to Lop sided Development

10. Populistic Welfare schemes based on cash ‘Doles’ • Import and eat instead of grow and eat, threatening self reliance and right to choose • PPP’s – primarily, profit driven – can farmers be shareholders instead of just stakeholders? • FDI in retail • Repeating mistakes in investments – Green revolution and economic models Also, majority policies, pursuing ‘Quick Fix’ Solutions

11. CONSEQUENCES ARE RISING FOOD INFLATION Vegetable prices spiked  46% in July  CONTRIBUTING TO GLOBAL WARMING LOSS OF RURAL LIVELIHOODS Leading to migration and pressure on urban centers LOSS OF HEALTH Everyday in Punjab 60 cancer patients go by this train for treatment

12. What are the Emerging Opportunities?

13. Islands of successful agro-ecological approaches Increasing pressures by Civil Societies and groups at the local level Emerging Global Recognition Unfortunately….Disasters too ( induced by Human greed) shaking consciousness!!! – the dangers of ignoring ecology

14. Islands include…AME’s efforts For the last 27 years • Guiding more than 100000 rain fed small farmers to put into practice combination of SA practices • Focus on guiding farmers through participatory Learning processes like Farmer Field Schools – for changed practices • Yield improvements (10-20% ) and cost reduction (around 20%). Usage of chemicals reduced considerably • Family farmers net incomes improved – combination of main crop, intercrops, border crops, enterprises

15. Sharing knowledge on ecological agriculture- a global movement LEISA India – member of agricultures network LEISA India - reaching around 14000 readers – English and 5 local languages Influencing hundreds of thousands of people in India and Asia

16. Together, Agricultures Network could promote… • Local Networking for supporting family farming practices, education, awareness and advocacy • Showcase Complementary and collective direction from partner’s diverse contexts • Serve as growing and compelling evidence treasure of climate resilient Alternatives

17. Explore New Opportunities – with old and ‘new’ stakeholders? Can Partners enable more farmers adopt practices - across diverse contexts – through empathetic field guidance? Can HITHERTO LESS TAPPED large local consumer base join the movement? Can they voice their preference for Safe, local and food, affordable to all Can visionary Governments and research show the way forward for faster progress of agroecological family farming Should we learn from mistakes or repeat the same?

18. Time to act, before it is too late We are all responsible, accountable For Saving the planet and For supporting the farmer who feeds us

19. Thank you for your attention and action • AMEF and LEISA India • Agricultures Network partner