VN hosts Asian Farmers’ Association general assembly

August 06, 2016 - 10:32

The 7th General Assembly of the Asian Farmers’ Association (AFA) for Sustainable Rural Development, hosted by the Việt Nam Farmers’ Union (VNFU), opened in Hà Nội yesterday.

Delegates to the AFA’s General Assembly in Hanoi. — Photo: hoinongdan.org.vn

The event acts as a forum for farmers’ organisations to engage in public agri-investment programmes to help eradicate poverty and hunger by 2030.
Addressing the event, AFA President Shimpei Murakami briefed attendees on the association’s history, noting that the AFA, founded in 2002, is a regional alliance of 17 national federations and organisations of small scale farmers and producers from 13 countries in Asia, including Việt Nam.
To ensure the rights and interests of Asian farmers, the association works to promote sustainable agricultural policies and practices, promote agriculture among the young, promote fair and just treatment of small-scale farmers, and promote food sovereignty measures, the president said.
It also strives to enhance farmer-to-farmer market exchanges and push for provisions on access to farm resources and rural development, and protection of small-scale farmers’ rights in Asian inter-governmental bodies, he added.
VNFU President Lại Xuân Môn said the union has worked closely with AFA members to achieve common goals in sustainable agricultural and rural development and protection of farmers’ rights.
Việt Nam officially became a member of the AFA this year after acting as an observer for 14 years, he said, adding that membership would provide the country opportunities for the development of its agriculture.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Vũ Văn Tám said the AFA shares common goals with Việt Nam’s agricultural development strategies. — VNS

 

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