Network of peasant organizations and producers in west africa (roppa)

09—BP 884—OUAGADOUGOU—BURKINA FASO

Tél (226) 36 08 25 ---Fax (226) 36 08 25

E-mail : cet_roppa@yahoo.fr

Web site : www.roppa.info

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NIAMEY’s WORKSHOP

“PEASANT PROPOSALS:

Niamey, 27 June 2003

• 
  food availability and accessibility;
  
• 
  growth in agricultural productivity by at least 6% per year;
  
• 
  the stimulation of local, national and sub-regional agricultural
  

• 
  integration to market economy by making the continent
  

• 
  increase production, mainly for export;
  
• 
  clarify land rights to facilitate land recording for the most
  

• 
  access external markets;
  
• 
  promote the private sector and entrepreneurship;
  
• 
  promote research and technologies.
  

The Peasant Organizations and Agricultural Producers in West Africa strongly regrets that the vision, orientations and strategies of the NEPAD have not been sufficiently discussed and negotiated with the main actors which are smallholdings and their associations.

The procedure used up to now does not yet correspond to the NEPAD founding principles which are the living strength internal mobilization, African resources and partnership.

• 
  the prices for the majority of our export products decrease
  

quality;

• 
  the development of tropical products under green houses in
  

support given to such products in the North, the end result will

be the diminution of our share of the market;

• 
  the excessive debts of our states which put us under the
  

mortgaging their rooms for maneuver for any support provided

to smallholdings;

• 
  our dependence which goes increasing and which is worrying as
  

producing plants coming from Europe)

• 
  the real threats on natural resources : can African reserves
  

the depletion of such resources trigger off expansion;

• 
  the massive departure of the youth from rural areas to other
  

concerns continuity in smallholding exploitation.

1. 
   Increase durably our productivity: to ensure availability and
   

populations and also raw material for industries, African small-sized

and-medium firms working in the processing of our local

productions.

2. 
   Organize our professions so that they become efficient: to
   

their interests and concerns, to create essential partnerships with

other professions and actors.
However, we need the support of States and Regional Economic Organizations to commit themselves to

1. 
   the fair treatment of agriculture in the allocation of budget
   

at the recapture of our own markets cannot be financed from

external resources which equally aim at “capturing” our

food demand. The dependence in this area should be progressively

reduced.

2. 
   extend good governance to rural civil society : our states
   

in other economic sectors. The organization and management of

agricultural professions, while being regulated by statutory law,

derive from the initiative and autonomy in decision making by

peasants and agricultural producers.

3. 
   implement, and according to the partnership spirit of the
   

continents taught that the support to agriculture is essential for its

development and in return, the sector strengthens national

sovereignty. Viable support mechanisms and tools, attractive for

smallholdings, are the necessary levers to ensure growth expected

by the NEPAD in terms of agricultural productivity.