ASEAN is home to 540 million people . Substantial percentages of land resources in many countries in ASEAN are devoted to agricultural production. Agriculture is still an important source of income and livelihood in many ASEAN countries. Yet , the poorest people in ASEAN, or those who live below $1 or even $2 dollars a day are found in the rural areas, these are the men and women small scale farmers , fishers and indigenous people.

In this context, and in the light of the food crisis, food security requirements and the issues of climate change, sustainable , organic, ecological friendly agriculture  becomes the key strategic response that governments may take, as also emphasized by the report of the International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science, Technology Development (IAASTD), signed by 60 countries and the World Bank.

With food surpluses being traded at local, national, regional and international markets, trade agreements that should be entered by ASEAN should a) preserve member state’s capacities to exempt sectors important to food security, livelihood security, rural development and poverty alleviation and ensure the benefit for smallholder producers; as well as b) provide sufficient safeguard measures and remedies . We ask ASEAN to ensure the participation of small scale rural producers in the policy formulation, implementation of these policies by recognizing their regional groups as an Advisory Council. Moreover, we ask ASEAN to enact and implement this agricultural policy through a system of governance that is transparent and accountable to the people by establishing processes and mechanism for social accountability making use of existing practices / approaches by member state.

We ask ASEAN governments, both at national and the regional level to promote sustainable agriculture by redirecting its agricultural investments, funding and policy focus.  Specifically, we ask that ASEAN and their member governments to:

1. Develop a common agricultural policy and action plan  that aims to improve access of small poor rural people to land, water and other natural resources, increase their productivity and incomes through sustainable, ecological-friendly agriculture  for the benefit of small-scale men and women farmers, fishers and indigenous peoples. The policy and action plan can contain clear objectives, targets, timeframes, and can use participatory processes involving lead agencies and departments and organized groups of small scale men and women farmers, fishers and indigenous peoples.
2. Corollary to this, establish a common agricultural development fund that will help carry out the action plan.
3. Emphasize the promotion of Sustainable agriculture in ASEAN’s SPA-FS and AIFS framework.  The development of this Plan can include workshops with various sectors to provide specific details to the SPA-FS.
4. Refine the ASEAN Rice Reserve/Food Reserve Scheme to help  stabilize rice supply and prices in the region; since the true spirit of economic cooperation and integration should be reflected in the way ASEAN addresses the issue of food security in the region.
5. In the area of  trade agreements that ASEAN and its member governments enter into,
   • preserve Member’s States’ capabilities to exempt sectors important to food securilty, livelihood security, rural development and poverty alleviation objectives from trade liberalization as well as provide sufficient safeguard measures and remedies.
   • develop ASEAN standards for sanitary and phytosanitary measures as a valid initiative to safeguard the health and safety of the region’s rapidly growing market which can be used to defend offensive and defensive interests of the region.
6. Regularly consult an advisory council composed of representatives of small-scale men and women  agricultural producers  (farmers, fishers, indigenous peoples) across the region on policies, programs and initiatives affecting, or has the potential to impact on agriculture.
7. Provide continuing processes and sustain mechanism that will strengthen social accountability towards realizing the vision for a people-centered ASEAN.

We , as civil society groups working for sustainable rural development, for the promotion of sustainable, ecological friendly agriculture,  and the development of small scale men and women farmers, fishers and indigenous people can cooperate with ASEAN in the formulation of these proposed policies and action plans. We can be active in task forces and committees that may be created. We can share our own experiences and technical expertise. Furthermore, we can help study how much governments allocate for agricultural programs and services benefiting small scale men and women farmers, fishers and indigenous peoples.