Additional input on ³Q1.1/1 on small farms¹ cooperatives² - where I asked: Ousmane from Cameroon "could you give some more information on how AUMN was set up (for instance, is it a cooperative, set up by the government?) - and from what you see: what have been the main advantages and challenges to make AUMN work, in your opinion?" Here is the additional input kindly provided by El Hadji Ousmane Ka <[log in to unmask]> (with thanks, Ousmane!!) >I am El Hadji Ousmane Ka. I am an actor of development who intervenes in >the field of agriculture and the environment. >I am very much a militant for a sustainable agriculture. >I helped my government set up agricultural farms for young people in >rural areas such as the PAPEJF project, especially to fight against >food insecurity. > >AUMN is a cooperative created by the growers themselves to help >farmers grow more and better, to achieve self-sufficiency. It is >legally recognized, it has a (national) president and presidents in each >union. Each union includes several operators of the same area. it >has above all helped to achieve self-efficiency in onions and very soon >in potatoes in Senegal. It is very likely that other sectors will >follow. >The government must not create cooperatives. Farmers must >create these and then seek partners to support them in their approach with >new production techniques and the use of organic inputs (e.g.). > >***** For reference - here is Ousmane¹s original input on this topic: >> From: El Hadji Ousmane Ka <[log in to unmask]> >> >> In the zone of Niayes (Ed: North-West region of Senegal) the >>exploitations >> are organized around an organization named AUMN (Ed: AUMN: Association >>des >> Unions Maraîchères des Niayes- see >> >>https://www.upadi-agri.org/association-des-unions-maraicheres-des-niayes- >>aumn/). >> This organization brings together more than 300 farms. This >>organization helps farms on a lot of things: >> - Find subsidized inputs of quality and quantity >> - Find financial and technical partners >> - Facilitate the flow of products before and after harvest >> - Defend the interest of producers >> This organization made it possible to have several partners like PADEN >>(Ed: >> PADEN : Programme d'Aménagement et de Développement - see >> http://www.paden-senegal.org/ ) ‹ It trained and sensitized many >>producers >> on the misuse of pesticides but also the importance of local products >>for >> food security. >> >> Humanity needs more production and avoid waste to feed itself in order >>to >> cope with food insecurity. Exploitation must play first and >> foremost the biggest role. >> >> ######################################################################## To unsubscribe from the SMALL-FARMS-L list, click the following link: https://listserv.fao.org/scripts/wa-fao.exe?SUBED1=SMALL-FARMS-L&A=1