This July, across the ten regions of La Via Campesina, there were mobilizations and advocacy efforts to highlight concerns about food sovereignty, agrarian reform, and the impact of industrial activities on agriculture. Organizations and unions in many countries voiced strong positions on legislative changes, economic policies, and environmental practices, reflecting a broader push for favorable public policies.
We begin with Latin American updates.
In July, peasant organizations in Ecuador submitted a letter calling for the withdrawal of the “Agro Reactivation” project. They argued that this initiative undermines food sovereignty, benefits agribusiness and agro-exportation, and undermines rights. A comprehensive review by indigenous and peasant groups, civil society organizations, and food justice advocates found that this legislative effort would not address the severe challenges faced by indigenous and peasant communities, which account for roughly 90% of the country’s agricultural production units.
In Colombia, approximately 2,500 peasants staged demonstrations in Bogotá, calling for quicker advancements in agrarian reform and the fulfillment of agreements. Following three days of protests, the Government and the National Peasant Agenda signed an agreement on July 10, which covered 31 crucial points. These include joint efforts by the Ministries of Agriculture and Environment to initiate studies for Peasant Reserve Zones, the National Land Agency committing to allocate a budget for at least 18,000 hectares in 2024, and the Rural Development Agency prioritizing economic reactivation and the expansion of peasant market initiatives.
In Peru, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights approved the admissibility report for a complaint about the contamination of the Puyango River in Tumbes, which was caused by mining activities from Ecuador. The complaint, filed by the Agrarian Federation of Tumbes, a CNA member, also included a request for compensation for the damage inflicted on peasant families in Tumbes by 140 Ecuadorian mining companies. It highlighted severe health issues among the Tumbes population due to contaminated water consumption and environmental damage resulting from toxic waste produced by mining operations.
Recently, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) had also visited Cobán, Guatemala, to address agrarian conflict and the humanitarian crisis caused by evictions affecting Q’eqchi’ families. They met with representatives from social, indigenous, peasant, and popular organizations. Key issues discussed included the worsening agrarian conflict due to justice system co-optation, direct and structural violence, gender-based violence, and murders, which have created a severe humanitarian crisis for indigenous populations.
In the Dominican Republic, the Agroecology Institutes of Latin America – IALA Mamá Tingó concluded its first semi-presential quarter, during which students took on organizational and community commitments, sharing knowledge according to the program. They also reaffirmed the IALA’s pedagogical principles, such as education for transforming knowledge in line with reality, using it as the basis for knowledge production, and the organic connection between education and culture.
In Cuba, as the 13th Congress of Cuba’s National Association of Small Producers (ANAP) approaches, under the slogan “Strengthened, United, and Productive,” the president of the association emphasized that the economic battle is a priority. Transforming cooperatives, improving member support and training, and boosting national food production are key goals, the association said.
Meanwhile, in Africa, member organizations engaged in a series of practical trainings and workshops to promote peasant production and marketing capacities.
In Uganda, this July, the East and Southern African Farmers’ Forum – ESAFF continued with its work of setting up Agroecology Clubs in learning institutions, specifically primary and secondary schools across the country to equip the young generation with knowledge and skills on agroecological practices to develop a resilient and knowledgeable generation as they integrate into the community.
In Tanzania, MVIWATA farmers from the Mkombozi group in Mapinduzi village, Bahi District received small-scale farmers from seven neighboring villages for an exchange visit. Farmers exchanged on agroecological practices in soil health management (including the making of biopesticides and bio-fertilizer), pest management, and post-harvest management.
In Senegal, the peasant network CNCR held a training camp for peasant women to develop an advocacy strategy to ensure that women’s rights are taken into account in public policies and to strengthen women’s resilience, focusing on the fight against climate change and access to land.
In Asia, the focus has been on demanding public policies that improve the working and living conditions of peasant communities on the continent.
In Thailand, on July 10, the Assembly of the Poor met with State officials to follow up on a series of land struggles and community land management issues. Chaired by Major General Thammanat Prompao, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, and attended by other key ministers, the meeting addressed 28 proposed solutions and established 9 sub-committees for implementation. Key issues discussed included the Hua Na and Rasi Salai dams, labor concerns requiring Cabinet resolutions, land issues under the Ministry of the Interior, Pak Mun Dam problems, and forestry and land management in cooperative settlements.
In India, the Bhartiya Kisan Union has expressed disappointment with the National Budget announced in July by the newly formed central government. In a press release, they noted that the allocation to the agrarian sector amounts to just 3% of total expenditure, despite 65% of the country relying on agriculture and allied activities. They also pointed out that the demand for a legal guarantee on a Minimum Support Price (MSP) remains unmet, while the corporate tax rate on foreign companies has been reduced from 40% to 35%. According to the union, implementing a legal guarantee on MSP based on the Swaminathan Commission’s scientific cost calculation would be the most effective way to improve agricultural productivity.
In Japan, the family farm movement Nouminren reports that it has submitted a demand letter with over 21,000 online signatures to the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, calling for the repeal of the Emergency Food Law. This proposed law, which is related to the “Revised Basic Law on Food, Agriculture, and Rural Areas,” would allow the government to require increased production or changes in crops from farmers if food imports decrease, with penalties for non-compliance in severe cases. The petition criticizes the law as a violation of constitutional freedoms, arguing that it would grant the government excessive control over farmers.
In Bangladesh, the farm workers’ union BAFLF has continued to advocate for the regularization of irregular workers across all research farms, including those under the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC). During the union’s General Body Meeting in July, members also called for the urgent implementation of their 13-point demands for agricultural farm workers, which include a daily wage of 1,000 Bangladeshi Taka (approximately 9 USD). Last year, BAFLF was partially successful in persuading the Ministry of Agriculture to issue directives related to these demands, though many remain unmet.
In Europe, the fight against resource grabbing and the demand for favorable public policies for small-scale food producers found resonance.
From July 12 to 21, the Confédération Paysanne was active at the Village de l’eau in Melle, France, where they ran a stand and participated in events against water-grabbing mega-basins. The program featured a roundtable on “Solutions for Treating and Restoring Water Quality,” a session for agricultural project holders and farmers seeking successors, a workshop on “Class Conflict in Agroindustry,” and a conference on “Global Agricultural Markets and Peasant Uprisings,” addressing recent peasant demonstrations in Western Europe and food sovereignty amid free trade agreements.
In Germany, the coalition government has endorsed the promotion of pasture-based farming, a key element of the agricultural package supported by the peasant union and Via Campesina member – AbL. The government has strongly backed this initiative, emphasizing the benefits of pasture-based agriculture for animals, people, biodiversity, and the climate, and highlighting its broad societal support. As the package progresses, AbL has stated that it will remain vigilant to ensure that political commitments are translated into concrete legislation.
We will wrap up this edition with news coming in from the Arab and North Africa region.
In Palestine, over the past nine months, despite intensified attacks in the West Bank and the ongoing genocide in Gaza, the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC) has been tirelessly working on the “Stop Gaza Starvation” campaign. This initiative has successfully reached 629,569 beneficiaries in the Gaza Strip. However, due to the blockade preventing the entry of humanitarian aid and the total destruction of agricultural land, Gaza has become a famine zone, exacerbated by the spread of disease and the increasing bombings and attacks against Palestinian civilians.
The Million Rural Women and the Landless association in Tunisia held a national meeting for peasants following several training sessions conducted in 2023 across different regions on the UNDROP. This gathering served as a crucial platform for rural communities to discuss food sovereignty, indigenous local seeds, and legal support for peasants, with a special focus on the importance of the UNDROP.
In Morocco, the National Federation of the Agricultural Sector continues to advocate for agricultural workers. On Tuesday, July 2, 2024, they held a meeting to discuss recent developments from the latest social agreement between the government and the most representative trade unions. The meeting focused on implementing methods to achieve equality between the minimum wage in the agricultural sector and its counterpart in the industrial sector. Additionally, it served as an opportunity to invigorate the federation’s organizational activities in preparation for its 4th national conference in February 2025.
If there are any important updates that we have missed, please send the links to communications@viacampesina.org so that we can include them in the next edition. We only include updates from La Via Campesina members. For a comprehensive update on various initiatives from July 2024, please visit our website. You can also find previous editions of our news wrap on our website. Condensed versions of our news wrap are accessible as a podcast on Spotify.