ASIAN FARMERS CALL FOR MORE "PRO-SMALL FARMER" MEASURE IN WTO AND FTAs

9m small farmers and producers from 10 countries in Asia call on government of developing agricultural countries to ensure that "pro-small farmer" rule will be agreed in the current WTO negotiations in Geneva as well as in bilateral agreements currently forged by their government with the United States. Asian farmers Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA) leaders make a press release statement during the WTO Forum held on 23rd June,2006 at Taiping Resort, Malaysia. My self as Secretary General of DHRRA Malaysia has facilitate this forum jointly with AFA Secretariat base in Philippines. The AFA leaders said in the forum " We want the DOHA Round to be really for the development and benefit of small farmers and producers. We want it to correct the unjust imbalance in trade between poor and rich countries. "We call on Asian government to take the FTA negotiations slowly, carefully, and have the welfare of the small farmers and the agriculture sector in mind. We call on our governments to be transparents in the negotiation process, to make open the proposals being given by both sides. Government should include us, farmers, in studying and drafting the agreement, farmers in Malaysia,in Thailand, in Indonesia,in Philippines, should study the proposals and make sure their voices are heard." said Seo Jung Eui,AFA Chairperson and also chairperson of the Korean Advanced Farmers Federation (KAFF).