I am happy to share some thoughts and ideas .
1. Impact of COVID-19 outbreak in NENA region.
COVID 19 pandemic did have consequences for small scale holders mainly due to disruption in value chains and reduced market access. However there are successful cases where tiny scale farming did help families ensure their food supply during the complete lockdown period.
Therefore, I think it is important to guarantee land tenure for SSFF and provide locally adapted technologies mostly for irrigation and post harvest losses.
2. Sustainable transition towards more sustainable agri-food systems
Digital innovation could be of great value for weather predictions and timing of cultural practices for food systems (and not only for individual areas) given the digital infrastructure is developed through remote areas.
3. Towards an inclusive and equitable growth
Governments are and should be the main actors in this area through providing:
- Infrastructures for communication (roads, internet, telephonne..);
- Promotion and support for women owned cooperatives in different segments of the value chain, especially as they start;
- Temporary basic income for vulnerable families farmers and women cooperatives.
As example, Morocco provided temporary basic income for vulnerable families and this did have a beneficial effect on small farmers in the mountainous areas. They could access food and medication during lockdown.
4) Enabling environment for the implementation of UNDFF
Since “family farming and family-based production models” are the core of UNDFF, I believe the roles for different actors could be considered as follows:
4.1. Governments provide fundings and enabling environment through supportive policies mainly for access to resources, including finances, gender equity and market access. They also contribute to investments and provide institutional frameworks.
Governments are central influential actors because they have the institutional power to deliver funding and reforms.
4.2. Development organisations are also influential. They catalyse and enable change through providing fundings and support for the formulation of national and regional policies. Also, they contribute to enhancing multilateral policy dialogues and cooperation (ex. south-south cooperation) and knowledge sharing.
4.3. Family farms and farmer organisations are catalysers since they are active actors in combating hunger and managing agricultural diversity. In addition, they are transmitters and preservers of traditional knowledge and culture and contribute to providing employment. Finally, they are the main beneficiaries of the action plan for UNDFF;
4.4. Civil society organisations usually have the social power and can help boost capacity building and monitoring in addition to building public support. They may be beneficiaries of fundings or provide fundings (fondations).
4.5. Private sector organisations may be enablers and positive influencers since they have the market and the fundings, therefore providing services and investments. For example, banks could provide innovative finance that do not exhaust small farm resources.
With my best regards
Dr. Malika Bounfour