http://www.fao.org/rural-employment/en/ Presentations delivered on the 7th of September 2015 in Barbados, during the launch of the new FAO project “Strengthening decent rural employment opportunities for young women and men in the Caribbean”, developed in collaboration with the IFAD. The project will operate for 3 years in 9 countries of the Sub-region, namely: St. Lucia, Grenada, Guyana, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, Haiti, Belize, Cuba and Dominican Republic. The programme is an example of effective inter-agency cooperation and aims to promote rural youth employment opportunities in the Caribbean by facilitating the development of targeted policies, partnerships and investments. The project will be implemented by the FAO Sub-regional Office for the Caribbean, in Barbados. The presentations show the perspectives and contributions of the different partners involved in the project. ©FAO: http://www.fao.org

1. LAUNCH AND POLICY DIALOGUE
REGIONAL FAO-IFAD Project
STRENGHENING DECENT RURAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
FOR YOUNG WOMEN AND MEN IN THE CARIBBEAN
7 - 9 September 2015
Bridgetown, Barbados
REAF MERCOSUR Experience and Youth Forum
Favio Pirone
Focal Point for Youth at REAF
Ministry Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries. Argentina

2. Specialized Meeting for Family
Agriculture of MERCOSUR

3. The MERCOSUR Member Countries
• Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and
Venezuela are full members (in blue).
• Bolivia (in yellow) has submitted its
application for accession to the bloc in
December 2012, and the same has been
approved.
• Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru are
associate members (green).

4. Family farming and peasant of MERCOSUR in figures
• Is estimated that there are approximately 7,200,000 of productive
units in charge of family farmers and peasants in the countries of
the Region involved in the REAF.
•Argentina: 252.000
•Brasil: 4.400.000
•Paraguay: 266.000
•Uruguay: 33.000
•Venezuela: 309.000
•Bolivia: 900.000
•Chile: 254.000
•Ecuador: 786.000
•Total: 7.200.000

5. Work and income in family agriculture of MERCOSUR
• The 7.2 million productive units involve 28 million people who work or
depend on the work of their families on the grounds for their livelihoods.
• Complementary in these units are hired on a permanent or transient at
approximately 14 million people who are not members of the families.
• As a result, revenues of more than 42 million people (60% of the total
rural population) in eight countries are directly related to activities carried
out in productive farming units.

6. Participation of family agriculture in the total agricultural
production in the countries of MERCOSUR
Argentina: 19% of the value of agricultural production
Brazil: 38 % of the value of agricultural production
Paraguay: 20% of the value of agricultural production
Uruguay: 30% of the value of agricultural production
Chile: 25% of the value of agricultural production

7. The special meeting for family farming (REAF) MERCOSUR
• The REAF is a specialized advisory body of the Common Market Group
(GMC) main "Executive" body of MERCOSUR and of the Council of the
Common Market (CMC), main body of MERCOSUR policy address.
• It was created in 2004 by the resolution of the GMC 11/04 at the behest of
Brazil and with the momentum of the so-called "letter of Montevideo"
whereby the social organizations of the AF belonging to the COPROFAM
asked the foreign ministries of the countries block the creation of a "space
Adviser and political dialogue specializing in public policies for the AF".
• The Technical Secretariat to IFAD MERCOSUR regional program assumes that
responsibility until 2012 handles

8. Objectives of the REAF
• Original goals of the REAF as an advisory body of MERCOSUR:
a. strengthening public policies for family agriculture in
MERCOSUR countries
b. promote and facilitate trade in the products of family farming in
the Region
In actuality :
 The REAF constitutes a privileged space for the institutional
political dialogue between Governments and organizations of
peasant and family agriculture.
 The REAF facilitates the Exchange and coordination of
experiences and instruments of public policy for the AF and C.
between MERCOSUR States.

9. The REAF in the institutional structure of MERCOSUR
• The REAF is composed of representatives of Governments and organizations of the
AF & C of MERCOSUR countries. Its mission is suggesting to the common market
Group (GMC) proposals of recommendations, decisions, agreements or guidelines
on public policies for the AF.
• Council of the Common Market (CMC): composed of the Ministers of Foreign
Affairs and economy of States parties is the supreme body of MERCOSUR and its
function is to carry out the process of political integration.
• Common Market Group (GMC): composed of representatives of the ministries of
Foreign Affairs, economy and the central banks of the States member is the
executive organ of Mercosur which the REAF is subordinate.
• States parties of MERCOSUR: put into practice the recommendations, resolutions
and decisions relating to family agriculture approved by the GMC and the CMC.

10. Main actors of the REAF
• National Governments: Represented by their areas and/or
agencies associated with the management of public policies
for family farming.
• The AF and peasant organizations: representation at national
or regional level involved in the process of political dialogue
for the formulation and implementation of proposals for
public policies for the sector.
Both actors integrate and constitute the national sections of the
REAF in each country.

11. Operation of the REAF
1. Nationals Sections (SN):
• Core of the REAF in each country comprised the areas Government and
organizations of peasant and family agriculture.
• They are spaces for dialogue and participation at the national level on the agenda
issues and public policies for the sector.
• Generate proposals agreed for regional work in the thematic groups of the REAF.
• At least 2 meetings held per semester in each country.
2. Meeting of Thematic Groups (GTs):
• Workspaces related technicians from Governments and representatives of the
organizations of the AF & C from the proposals and products elaborated in each
national section on each topic of the REAF agenda.
• Technical guidelines for consideration by the national coordinators (political
leadership) of the REAF is formulated.
• Develop two GTs meeting per semester: one prior to meetings of the REAF and
one during the same.

12. Operation of the REAF
3. REAF´s Meetings:
• Workspace integration regional level of the work done during the
semester by the national sections and different thematic groups.
• Scope of exchange of experiences and regional policy dialogue on public
policies for the AF and C.
• Space of coordination and agreements on policies, channelled by the
national coordinating bodies in each country, to be elevated as
suggestions to the GMC.
• Half-yearly meetings within the framework of the successive Presidencies
Pro Tempore of MERCOSUR.

13. Operation of the REAF
4. Regional meeting of organizations of the AF & C.
•Quiet workspace for organisations with own agenda and support of the technical
secretariat
5. Thematic seminars, workshops and programs:
•Spaces of Exchange specializing on issues on the agenda of public policies for the
AF and C.
•Aimed at generating accumulation of knowledge that can inform policy
recommendations to be taken up by the REAF driving of the MERCOSUR organs.
6. Secretariat technical (ST) of the REAF:
•Permanent Function.
•Assistance to national coordinating bodies.
•Relationship with the bodies of MERCOSUR.
•Joint agenda and actions of the REAF with international cooperation agencies
linked to the AF and C.

14. The Agenda of the REAF and their thematic groups
 The REAF joined the main issues on the agenda of the social
movements of the AF and the agenda of public policies of the
Governments of the States that compose it.
 The REAF to been updated and systematically expanding its agenda of
work over 10 years of work uninterrupted.
The thematic groups of the REAF are as follows:
1. Access to Comerce
2. Technical Group of the registers of the AF and C
3. Access to policies for land and agrarian reform
4. Gender equity policies
5. Risk management and adaptation to climate change
6. Rural Youth.

15. The REAF Agenda of public policy issues for the AF and C.
1. Access to Comerce
 Public Purchases of AF y C products.
 Proximity, community, and institutional markets
 Access to traditional markets
 Taxes
 Recovery, development and access to appropriate technologies and
Rural Extension
 Seal of family farming
 Sanitary Issues
 Regional and international trade negotiations
 Asociativism and Cooperativism

16. The REAF Agenda of public policy issues for the AF and C.
2. Group technical of the registers of the AF and C.
 Characterization of the AF and C.
 Recognition mutual of the national registers of the AF in the Region
Records of organizations of family farming
Articulation between the AF and national census records

17. The REAF Agenda of public policy issues for the AF and C.
3. Access to policies for land and agrarian reform
 Access to land, water and other natural resources
 Approach to the voluntary guidelines on the responsible
governance of tenure of land, fisheries and forests
 Social function and women's access to ownership of land
 Processes of denationalization, concentration and land use
 Dialogue with the land institutes in each country
 Experiences of territorial development focusing on access to land

18. The REAF Agenda of public policy issues for the AF and C.
4. Gender equity policies
 Institutionalization of gender equity policies
 Equal rights in access to land
 Participation of women in the productive chains
 They visibility of women and productive organizations of women in
national registries
5. Risk management and adaptation to climate change
 Sustainable development and Agroecology
 Seeds
 Good management practices and adaptation to climate change
 Parameters for the social management of risk

19. The REAF Agenda of public policy issues for the AF and C.
6. Rural Youth
 Promotion of youth access to land
 Institutionalization of public policies for rural youth
 Incomes and Jobs
 Rural Education
 Models of sustainable production and agroecology

20. 10 Years of REAF
Principals Results

21. REAF´s Legislation
• Resolution GMC 11/04 : It creates the specialized meeting of family
farming
• Resolution GMC 25/07 (2007) : It establishes common criteria for
the definition of family agriculture in MERCOSUR countries and
resolves to urge States parties to create national records of family
farmers in the Member States.
• Recomendation CMC 06/08 : It establishes guidelines for gender
equality in public policies for family agriculture in MERCOSUR.
• Decition CMC 45/08 : Create the background of family farming
(FAF) of MERCOSUR for the purpose of financing projects and
programmes to encourage family farming and supporting the
participation of social organizations in the REAF.

22. REAF´s Legislation
• Decition CMC 06/09 : Rules of the Family Farming Founf of the
MERCOSUR.
• Recomendatión CMC 01/10 : Establishes guidelines for the policy
distinct from development and financing of family farming.
• Recomendation CMC 02/11 : Recommends to the States parties to
adopt specific policies targeting rural education at all levels of
education based on the principle of respect for the rural diversity.
• Decition CMC Nº 59/12 : It establishes mutual recognition of the
national registers of the family agriculture of Argentina, Brazil and
Uruguay on the basis of resolution 25/07 (characterization of the AF
in Mercosur).

23. 1. Identification and visibilization of the Family Farming
 Establishment of common criteria for the characterization of the AF.
 Development of national registries of the AF in the countries of the Region
2. Institutionalization of the sector on national scenario
 Creation and/or fortifications of areas and Government agencies specifically
oriented to the implementation of policies for the AF and C in different
countries of the MERCOSUR (secretaries, undersecretaries, directions,
institutes, etc.).
 Development or expansion of institutionalized spaces for dialogue and active
participation of the / as farmers family and organized peasants (forums,
councils, etc.)
 Strengthening state capacities for management and implementation of public
policies for family agriculture
(Registers of the AF, procurement of the AF, fairs, development and access to
appropriate technologies, seals of the AF., regularization of domains).
Principal Results

24. Principal Results
3. Creation of fa Family Farming Found of the MERCOSUR (FAF)
 Financing of the permanent activities of the technical secretariat with the
active participation of the social organizations in the activities of the REAF.
4. Progress in the process of regional integration in terms of public policies
for the AF and C.
Development of training and exchange of experiences at the regional
level with the participation of government officials, technicians and
representatives of organizations of the AF and C. (courses, programmes
of Exchange, seminars, workshops, conferences, etc.).
5. Impulse national legislation on public procurement of the AF and AF.
6. Consolidation of a regional space for political dialogue and social
participation between Governments and social organizations of family
farming.

25. Major initiatives and actions in development
1. Regional Exchange program of public policies for access to
technologies appropriate for the AF and C.
2. Regional programme support for the development of the
national records in the MERCOSUR countries.
3. Seal of family agriculture of MERCOSUR for the promotion of
regional trade in the products of the AF.
4. II program for the Regional Exchange of policy experiences from
public purchases of the AF.
5. IV Regional training course of rural youth. 6 II Regional
Exchange program at gender equity policies.

26. Major initiatives and actions in development
6. Regional workshop on "Rights of the farmers the resources
genetic"
7. The REAF and its technical secretariat support to the thematic
cluster of family agriculture of CELAC.
8. Facilitation of the process of bonding between university
institutions in the Region (Forum of universities of the AF of
Argentina, UNILA, network of universities, etc.) for dialogue with
Governments and organizations on public policies for the sector.
9. Development of the REAF´s website

27. REAF´s Rural Youth Agenda
1. We are on the IV meeting of Exchange on public policies for the youth of
the expanded Mercosur. Four regional training courses Rural Youth took
place between the years 2008 - 2015
2. The organizations in its foundations were strengthened. Young people were
also involved in policy public after the training instances. The young
participants assumed leadership roles in their organizations.
3. Institutional spaces were created in the Ministries of Agriculture of
member countries. National Rural Youth in Argentina. Ministry of Agrarian
Development - Youth Consulting in Brazil. Coordination of the “Somos
Nosotros” (Us is) in the General Direction of Rural Development in Uruguay
are some examples
4. The recommendation 02/11 on Rural Education was a proposal that
emerged from focus group discussions of rural youth

28. REAF´s Rural Youth Agenda
5. The Agenda on public policies for the youth and of the REAF public policies
of access to land; productive resources; integration and the farm
succession in the bosom of families and production units; access to
education and infrastructure; the significant differential funding, the
asociativism, among other issues that make the participation of rural youth
in the region
6. CELAC has created the Family Agriculture Theme Group and one of the axes
of choice for treating the issue of youth and rural succession.
7. Courses and national camps developing countries us predispose and orient
themselves to the construction of a space Latin American meeting and
reflection, policies for the sector in 2016

29. The criteria defined by the MERCOSUR to identify the population that qualifies as family
farming are:
1. Occupied in establishing labor predominantly belongs to the family, limited
the occupation of hired workers.
2. The family is responsible for direct production and management of agricultural
activities and resides on the premises or in a next town.
3. Productive resources used shall be compatible with the working capacity of
the family, with the activity and with the technology used, according to the
reality of each country (which assumes a direct relationship between the ability
of farmers and the use of resources).
They are also part of family farming, respecting the criteria listed, men and women -
farmers - landless, beneficiaries of agrarian reform processes or programs of access and
permanence in the land, and communities of producers that make common use of land.
Definition of Family Farming - Resolution GMC 25 /07

30. Thanks!