N. 02/2020 [Featured images] [cid:image005.jpg@01D627CF.DE48B9F0] Highlights Challenges faced by forest and farm producer organizations in COVID-19 context The COVID-19 pandemic is challenging FFPOs in several ways. Our FFPO partners and friends are continuously reporting what they are facing and doing to manage during these difficult times and what kind of proactive measures they are taking to deliver services to their members. Our friends from ASEC in Nepal are reporting that grains and vegetables grown in their farms are either not harvested, or if harvested, it can't reach markets due to lockdown, consequently market prices of vegetables and grains are raising. An additional short-term negative impacts is the scarcity of agricultural inputs and feed ingredients, which is resulting in reduced food, grains and fish production. In Tanzania, TAHA is reporting that the demand for horticultural products has dropped by over 50 per cent as the majority of horticultural production is for the export market. Horticulture in Tanzania is labor intensive and employs a huge number of the Tanzania's labor force. A slash in jobs is expected and it will directly affect more than 6 000 farms and factory workers. This effect will impact to more than 15 000 out growers who have been contracted to grow for exporters and processors. Best practices from countries At country level, FFPOS are proactively involved in connecting farmers with governmental support programs and in policy-making process to deliver services to their members. In Vietnam, VNFU is connecting with government support programs [A group of people sitting at a table Description automatically generated]VNFU is supporting vulnerable socio-economic groups and farmers to connect them with government support programs and in accessing loans with low or without interest. The government has set up policies to encourage private sector market systems to purchase farmers' products to push up domestic consumption with low prices and deeper processing. Some of provincial Farmer Unions, such as Yen Bai, Bac Kan, Hoa Binh and Son La, are providing dedicated loans program for poor farmers and women to support their daily life and production during the pandemic. VNFU is supporting vulnerable farmers and groups responding to the Vietnamese Government's slogan: "No one left behind". In Bolivia, FFPOs are actively involved in policy-making process FFPOs are developing public policy proposals and strategies to strengthening the organizational capacities of FFPOs during the pandemic and supporting governments in raising COVID-19 awareness and information in the usage of local languages. FFPOs are also coordinating with authorities to help their members to meet the requirements needed for food transportation and supply to distribution and consumptions centers. Moreover, FFPOs are facilitating the coordination with their members to strengthening food production and distribution chains at local and municipal level. In Togo, CTOP has concluded a framework agreement with an input supplier to bring agricultural inputs closer to producers in their stores The Coordination Togolaise des Organisations Paysannes et de Producteurs Agricoles (CTOP) plans to undertake communication actions in favor of its members and rural communities through various channels. It has concluded a framework agreement with an input supplier to bring agricultural inputs closer to producers in their stores. In order to rapidly accompany family farmers and support the Government's efforts, CTOP has drawn up an action plan to support POs. The objective of this plan is to protect farm households from the COVID-19 pandemic and support farm households in the course of the 2020-2021 agricultural campaign. [cid:image010.png@01D627CF.DE48B9F0] "The COVID-19 tells now to the world what indigenous peoples and local communities have been saying for thousands of years: if we do not protect biodiversity and nature, then we will face this and worse future threats. While addressing this pandemic, we will also notice that the more territorial and land rights we have, the better sanitary conditions and food security of our population are. For the humanity as a whole, this is a lesson that we must learn to respect the balance of Mother Earth." Comment from Levi Sucre, Mesoamerican Alliance of Peoples and Forests Events * FFF Webinar: What we grow together counts: using a tree inventory for business planning and development, 20 May at 1-3pm (GMT+2) * IIED Webinar: Nature-based solutions for climate change<https://www.iied.org/nature-based-solutions-for-climate-change-global-ambition-local-action>, 22 May, at 2-3.15pm (GMT+1) * Regional webinar (FFF, UNDFF): Exchange of experience and learning between POs from Bolivia, Ecuador and Uruguay in the face of Covid-19, 27 May at 4-6pm (GMT+2) [Blog image] Forest and Farm Facility <http://www.fao.org/forest-farm-facility/en/> - Follow us on #ForestFarmFacility<https://twitter.com/search?f=tweets&vertical=default&q=%23ForestFarmFacility> [cid:image012.png@01D627CF.DE48B9F0] ######################################################################## To unsubscribe from the FFF-Partners-L list, click the following link: https://listserv.fao.org/scripts/wa-fao.exe?SUBED1=FFF-Partners-L&A=1