On October 24th 2010 was held in Lilongwe, Malawi, the African Encounter on the Campaign for the proclamation by the UN of the International Year of the Family Farming-IYFF.
More than 60 representatives of the 5 Peasant Federations of the continent and many rural development NGOs gathered to share a tight schedule.
Mamadou Cissokho, Coordinator of the Platform of Peasant Organizations in Africa, gave the inaugural conference, followed by numerous interventions to place in context the reality of family farming in Africa. Africa, cradle of food traditions and cultural values, is suffering from unfair competition from subsidized food imports and the lack of local support.
The whole afternoon was destined to work in groups defining the activities necessary in each country to advance on the campaign. It was given special emphasis on efforts to gain support from African governments and greater recognition by the Civil Society and the media.
This continental meeting was supported by the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Development-CTA and by the French Catholic Committee Against Hunger and for Development -CCFD.
Between 25th and 27th October, The WRF and other organizations that were presented in the IYFF continental encounter, took part in other two major events:
- The Constituent Assembly of the Pan-African Farmers, PAFF, where were presented the results of the IYFF meeting.
- A seminar about Financing agriculture in Southern Africa, organized by the CTA.
All these meetings have enabled many contacts and support, especially the formal adhesion of PAFF to the IYFF Campaign that accepts its leadership on the field in Africa.