To learn, share information, and promote and advocate for sustainable agriculture practices of organic farming, integrated crop and pest management, biodiversity farming, and, importantly, the rights of farmers to have control over their seeds, the Asia Partnership for Human Development (APHD) and partner Caritas Nepal hosted from 7 to 11 October 2006 its second APHD Pan-Asia Program on Sustainable Agriculture and Farmers' Rights (SAFaR) Conference in Kathmandu, Nepal. A total of 20 farmers and 20 agriculture sector specialists from across Asia took part in the conference from APHD member organizations of South, Southeast, East Asia, and Australia. The conference also attracted leading agriculturalists, noted government officials, and national media in Nepal.

      Attended by nine of the eleven APHD partner agencies, the conference provided a good opportunity for both SAFaR program officers and farmers to learn and experience the highly effective sustainable agriculture program of Caritas Nepal. It also marked the first time that an APHD partner from East Asia (Caritas Hong Kong) participated, and the first meeting of the new SAFaR Sustainable Agriculture Working Group.

      A key feature of the event was sharing of case studies by participants showing how sustainable agriculture methods are economically, socially and environmentally viable in the short and long run in Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, and Cambodia. All shared the aim of promoting sustainable agriculture to safeguard the livelihoods of small-scale farmers of Asia. Eleven members of APHD from South Asia and South East Asia are implementing activities at Asia-level programming for promoting sustainable agriculture and farmers' rights.

      A key feature of the event was sharing of case studies by participants showing how sustainable agriculture methods are economically, socially and environmentally viable in the short and long run in Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, and Cambodia. All shared the aim of promoting sustainable agriculture to safeguard the livelihoods of small-scale farmers of Asia. Eleven members of APHD from South Asia and South East Asia are implementing activities at Asia-level programming for promoting sustainable agriculture and farmers' rights.

      Fr. Bogati K. B., APHD chairperson and executive Director of Caritas Nepal, chaired the inaugural session and the welcomed all attendees, including the guest of honour, a female farmer from Sri Lanka named Ms. E. A. Premawati. Others guests of honor were Mr. Yuri Munsayac, the coordinator of Pan-Asia Sustainable Agriculture and Farmers' Rights Program; Mr. Gabriel Baroi, APHD program officer; Mr. Joseph Niraula, the coordinator of Caritas Asia; Dr. Haridas V.R. PhD, the environment officer of Caritas India and past coordinator of APHD South Asia Regional Sustainable Agriculture and Farmers' Rights Program; Mr. Sarad Parasar, seed pathologist of Seed Quality Control Division of Ministry of Agriculture; Mr. K.P. Panth, senior economist at the Ministry of Agriculture; Mr. Ritu Gartaula, member secretary of the Nepal Social Welfare Council; and Mr. Manindra Malla, former coordinator of the South Asia APHD Sustainable Agriculture and Farmers' Rights Program and head of program desk of Caritas Nepal. The APHD event attracted considerable media attention in the capital of the spectacular Himalayan country, with numerous reports published in the Himalayan Times and Kathmandu Post national print dailies, as well as broadcast reports of the conference on both national television and radio.

      The inaugural session began with a brief introduction of Nepal. The description included the political, cultural, geographical and the agricultural aspects of Nepal. Agriculture, which is the backbone of Nepalese economy, provides livelihood to over 80% of the population and contributes about 40% to the national GDP. Agriculture is not only an occupation but also a part of Nepalese identity, tradition, culture and the way of life. Similarly, it was said that agriculture is a part of Asian identity and it faces challenges in regards to livelihood sustainability of the farmers, and sustainability of the farming systems.

      A highlight of the session was Fr. K. B. Bogati's encouraging report on the achievements of IPM program of Caritas Nepal in improving rice productivity by 50 percent. He emphasized that in the current scenario many Asian countries are interconnected through agriculture. "We have strong similarities in that our citizens depend on agriculture for the livelihood," he said. "APHD has been working to empower small farmers for decades, and now in the future there is need to learn from our experiences and work more effectively to help the small farmers of Asia." He hoped that despite the structural changes ongoing within APHD, mechanisms need to be developed to support the continuation of our common effort to promote sustainable agriculture and empower small-scale farmers of Asia. Mr. Joseph B. Niraula, the coordinator of Caritas Asia, congratulated APHD for organizing the Asia-level conference, its work in sustainable agriculture, and hoped for future mechanisms to sustain these Asiawide campaigns.

      The head of Program Desk of Caritas Nepal, Mr. Manindra Malla, welcomed the APHD participants on behalf of Caritas Nepal by emphasizing the solidarity on display and the unique opportunity the event provided for networking and information sharing. "Agricultural concerns of small farmers in Nepal are the same concerns of other farmers in Asia," he said, and Caritas Nepal wanted to share its success in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in rice with its fellow APHD partners. Mr. Yuri Munsayac, the coordinator of Pan-Asia Sustainable Agriculture and Farmers' Rights Program, stressed the three main objectives of the conference, which were to were to share experiences and update one another on sustainable agriculture; to increase partners' knowledge and capacity in order to increase their involvement in sustainable agricultural practices, farmers' rights and food security; and to jointly plan future activities under the Pan Asia Program on Sustainable Agriculture and Farmers' Rights. Additionally, APHD program officer, Gabriel Baroi, said such conferences were the best venues to share successful experiences of empowering small farmers. He thanked Caritas Nepal for hosting the conference and the farmers of various countries attending the conference for sharing their experience and knowledge in sustainable agricultural practices.

      Former SAFaR coordinator, Dr. Haridas K.V., currently the Environment Officer of Caritas India, reiterated the fact that all participants' countries have been widely adversely affected by soil, water, and land degradation. This is resulting in disempowerment and even suicide of farmers in the many thousands in southern India. He called on participants to learn from the best practices of Caritas Nepal and to disseminate the knowledge learnt in their own work. Echoing this sentiment, Sarad Parasar, a seed pathologist of the Seed Quality Control Division of Ministry of Agriculture, Nepal, introduced the status of integrated crop and pest management (IPM) in Nepal, and its importance for the promotion of sustainable agriculture. "Farmers are equally capable in conducting research as scientists," he said, encouraged to hear that Farmer Field School groups supported by Caritas Nepal had managed to raise rice productivity by fifty percent (50%) in trials. Mr. Sarad emphasized that the Ministry of Agriculture remains interested to engage with partners like Caritas Nepal who want to empower small farmers. Moreover, he was very glad that Caritas Nepal was focusing on priority topic of integrated crop and pest management, which is most essential for improving rice and vegetable crops' productivity and sustainability in Nepal.

      Dr. K. P. Pant, senior economist at the Ministry of Agriculture, shared his views on farmers' rights, WTO, TRIPS, UPOV Conventions, and reiterated the need to advocate on seed rights in Nepal and Asia. He applauded the work of APHD Asia General Partner, SAWTEE, and also the work of Action Aid and Caritas Nepal to ensure that the traditional rights of farmers over seeds are not swept aside by waves of economic globalization. "Farmers have a traditional right over land, water, bio-diversity and genetic resources, and have right to learn of things that affect farming and give decision on issues related to farming," Dr. Pant stressed. Dr. Ritu P. Gartaula, member secretary of Social Welfare Council (a government body overseeing NGOs work in Nepal) agreed, saying that farmers have a unique relationship with the natural environment, and have a pivotal role in food production and distribution of food. His main message was that organic approaches are better for public health and confirmed SWC's support in the work of APHD and Caritas Nepal.

      Overall, the meeting in Nepal stood out as a well-run event for understanding better the benefits of practicing IPM as exemplified by Caritas Nepal. Learning from fellow Asian farmers is the strength of the pan-Asia farmers' conference approach, and one-by-one participants and sustainable development program officers alike from across the APHD network expressed delight in acquiring new skills and knowledge regarding sustainable agriculture technologies, and in particular IPM promoted by Nepal. Indeed, the SEACON Malaysia representative. Ms. Indrani, was pleased to attend, as she put it, "such an immensely beneficial program." Particularly useful for agriculture trade policy analysts such as her were the field study visits, which she said provided an opportunity to study the actual situation of a village immersed in sustainable agriculture. Besides the sharing of technologies, Indrani enjoined all in the APHD program to continue to build relationships among the group members.

      Caritas Australia's representative, Mr. Melville Fernandez, who found the program to be very informative, said that the covered topics were discussed in a very simple manner that could be understood by all. The participation was very good and he promised that Caritas Australia was committed and willing to help the APHD sustainable agriculture activities. This good news was well received by all, particularly since the APHD program is now testing ideas and approaches to gain maximum efficacy for Asia's marginalized farmers. Fr. Silas Bogati, pointed towards the need for the continuation of this Asia level program which is indeed a good platform to share and learn from each other. Furthermore he said that Caritas Asia is very positive towards the continuation of the program as institutional changes happen at APHD level after 2007, adding that APHD will need to seek new mechanisms to continue work in sustainable agriculture and farmers' rights. He pointed out the obvious benefits of the movement, exemplified best by lady farmer Ms. Phaep from Cambodia. "This conference was a wonderful opportunity to share and learn various experiences on sustainable agriculture with my fellow farmers of Asia. I will take all that I learned to Cambodia and to be committed towards replicating it," Ms. Phaep promised. In conclusion, APHD Executive Board Member, Sr. Rosanne Mallillin NASSA in the Philippines, thanked and congratulated all the participants on behalf of APHD. Reflecting on the overall historical progression on the APHD farmers' conferences, and the impressive evolution of the program to its current Pan-Asia SAFaR, she pointed out the good development made in terms of participation, sharing, technological expertise, and national and international level advocacy. Her view was that the program is now getting good results and is well placed to continue to achieve in the future. She also thanked Caritas Nepal's Manindra Malla for his dynamic leadership and the Caritas staff for their praiseworthy hospitality of the APHD conference. She ended her closing remarks by saying that she looks forward to ever more passion, commitment and conviction from the participating farmers involved with the APHD Pan-Asia Program on Sustainable Agriculture and Farmers' Rights.