Date: 23 October 2014

Source: PAN AP

Type: Press Release

Keywords: Food sovereignty caravan

PAN Asia Pacific (PAN AP) warmly applauds our friends and partners in Sri Lanka for their successful five-day Caravan for Seed and Food sovereignty from 12-16 October.

The caravan organized and participated in by various groups including the Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR), National Women’s Federation (VIKALPANI), and the National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO) successfully highlighted the need for a fair and sustainable food system in Sri Lanka.

MONLAR, VIKALPANI and NAFSO are longtime partners of PAN AP in our campaigns in the region to assert the food sovereignty of the people, oppose land grabbing, advance the rights of small food producers including rural women, and promote genuine agrarian reform.

The caravan was also a strong statement against the new Seeds Bill being introduced by the Sri Lankan agriculture department which will only increase the control over seeds by local and foreign agro companies while obstructing the diversity of seeds and planting materials.

We salute the 4,000 farmers, fishers, agricultural and plantation workers, and other small food producers as well as consumers and advocates of food sovereignty who participated in the caravan. They demonstrated what a determined mass movement could do and achieve to advance the rights and welfare of the people.

They inspired us to continue our work on exposing and opposing programs and policies that only serve the narrow interests of a few, such as the big, profit-oriented private corporations, while worsening poverty and hunger especially in the rural areas.

Indeed, the people’s movement for food sovereignty remains strong and is growing as clearly demonstrated by the Caravan for Seed and Food Sovereignty. ###

References: Ms. Sarojeni Rengam, Executive Director, sarojeni.rengam@panap.net