The farmers' organisation (FOs) as a civil society has a definite role in promoting food security and nutrition both within farming and non-farming sectors. Unlike many other forms of civil society groups, the members of FOs themselves undertake farming which put them in the context to carry out farming practices both for food security and nutrition. The involvement of FOs in the farming sector is most appropriate and cost-effective in the present context of agriculture given the low-level of resources available for the public sector for the same role.
There is evidence that FOs have contributed in increasing food production, marketing, enhancing agricultural productivity, conservation of land, water and other farming resources, conflicts resolution, diversification of agriculture, production of chemiclas-free crops and livestock, popularisation of organic farming methods and several other activities.
The following link takes reader to the profiles of FOs in Sri Lanka where much of the farming responsibility in irrigation systems is rested on this entity. The report also describes with data activities of organisations, profile, membership, legal status, financial strength and constraints to progress.
https://skydrive.live.com/?id=8C8B433C0D1FB2AF!169&cid=8c8b433c0d1fb2af&
It is important to note that FOs are not only active in agricultural production and marketing but also in resource conservation, diversification, conflicts resolution and in a number of social activities that are important weithin farming areas.
Farmers' organisation offers a viable and sustainable mechanism to increase production, diversify, products marketing, secure food security and produce healthy food for the people in countries where public-sector led extension is either not working or seriously handi-capped in several countries in Asia-Pacific and Africa.
Dr. Anura Widana