SARD-FSE Project to hold regional workshops

The three case study teams of the Evolution of Farming Systems for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development Project (SARD-FSE Project) have just finalized their reports including elements of recommendations for SARD evolution of the selected farming system. Dissemination of project outputs and follow-up activities will begin in the coming months with regional workshops for Central America, South East Asia and West Africa.

The SARD-FSE Project is conducting these cases studies in Honduras, Mali and the Philippines, with the aim of using the results to enhance the capacity of governmental and non-governmental institutions to plan, implement and evaluate sustainable agriculture and rural development policies and strategies, and to develop the essential capacities to actively participate in the processes of decision-making (read article published in the August 2003 update).

The regional workshops will be held in the countries in which the case studies are being carried-out on the following dates: Tegucigalpa, Honduras from 13-15 July 2004 (organized by the Program for Sustainable Agriculture in Latin American Hillsides -PASOLAC, the FAO representation in this country and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock); Antipolo City, Philippines from 19-21 July 2004 (organized by the Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development -ANGOC, the FAO representation in this country and the Department of Agriculture) and in Bamako, Mali in early September 2004 (organized by Institute of Rural Economics - IER, the FAO representation in this country and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries).

The goals of the workshops are to:

• Review and provide feedback on the methodological guidelines, lessons learnt and recommendations of the SARD-FSE case study implemented in that region.
• Identify current and future issues and priorities for policy and institutional analysis to develop agriculture and rural sector toward SARD.
• Formulate preliminary proposals for regional and/or HQ collaboration on SARD policy and institutional analysis and implementation in support of national efforts, including all key actors, and priorities identified.

These multi-stakeholder, inter-disciplinary workshops will include the participation of case study team leaders (Dr. B. Vargas -ANGOC in Philippines, Mr. A. Kergna -IER in Mali and Mr. J. Salinas -PASOLAC in Honduras. Read interview of the Team Leaders in the December 2003 update). Some 40 participants, from the following sectors are expected to attend each workshop:

• Case study team, National Steering Committee and local stakeholders
• FAO at national and regional level
• National participants, 2 per country from a governmental institution and from civil society, from at least 5 countries
• National, international and regional organisations or programmes (e.g. Japan, France, USAID, EU, RUTA, SPFS programs, Food Security Officer for the sub region, CIAT, NEPAD, ICRISAT, IRRI, Regional Banks, ROPPA, World Bank).

Download the leaflet (324 KB) presenting the evolution of farming systems for sustainable agriculture and rural development Project - Building on policies, strategies and tools.

For more information on the workshops please contact Dr. Marcelino Ávila at marcelino.avila@fao.org or Ms. Dominique Legros at dominique.legros@fao.org