Farmer to farmer agroecological movement

Farmer to farmer agroecological movement

The Farmer to Farmer Agroecological Movement is an ANAP program created in 1997, with the support of the German NGO Bread for the World (Machn et al. 2010). The movements main objective is to achieve food security through sustainable means. Under the tutelage of ANAP and other supportive organizations, the movement has grown significantly since the late 1990s with farmers sharing knowledge, exchanging ideas and combining their efforts. While the use of agrochemicals decreased between 1988 and 2007, crop production increased. For example, despite an 85% decrease in agrochemical use in 2007, production levels reached 145% for tubers, 83% for vegetables and 351% for beans. This trend is linked to the increased use of organic matter in agriculture, as discussed in part one (ibid). The Farmer to Farmer Movement employs a participatory methodology in which peasant promoters show their farms and demonstrate the techniques key to their success. Through the movement, successful examples of sustainable agriculture have multiplied. The farming demonstrations are almost always held in situ, or on the farm itself. For example, a farmer might demonstrate how he maintains his breeding stock of earthworms. After the demonstration, the farmers exchange ideas and make follow-up arrangements (Fundora 2008). ANAP president Orlando Lugo Fonte comments: The development of the Agroecological Movement in Cuba is strategic; it is a question of national security. Today we have over 100,000 farmers using sustainable methods, producing organic fertilizers. We have popularized the Agroecological Movement and today these techniques are widespread and familiar to any cooperative (Ruiz 2007). In all its work, the Farmer to Farmer Movement is committed to a horizontal, democratic and participatory approach to development aimed at improving production, spreading agroecology techniques, and promoting the well being of families, communities and the country as a whole.