Representatives of the CNCR member farmers' and producers' organizations, as well as other national platforms member of the ROPPA (Network of West-African Farmers' and Producers' Organizations), met from 20 to 22 November, 2012 in Dakar in the framework of the international forum "Family farms constitute the primary food and wealth suppliers in West Africa".
The participants confirmed the significance of the potential and current function of family farms and recognized that as long as family farms are facing many constraints associated with an unfavorable socioeconomic environment, they have not yet deployed their full potential and still enjoy opportunities to grow and considerably contribute to the different functions pertaining to agriculture, namely feeding the population, creating wealth and employments, and managing natural resources in a sustainable manner.
Land grabbing, agro-business and development and growth programs elaborated without consultation and negotiation with family farms through farmers' organizations were condemned.
The need today is to respond to this issue:What investments, for which production systems, for which product, for which market, and for the benefit of whom?
Read the whole declaration at http://viacampesina.org/downloads/pdf/en/final-statement-forum-dakar-cncr.pdf