- We believe that meaningful sustainable agriculture and rural development will only be achieved if founded on democratic principles. Such a democratic system would recognize the important role of people orientated models which promote labour-intensive approaches and the use of appropriate technology.

Proposed NGO Strategies

Goals: - recognition of food security as a primary policy for all governments and international policy-determining institutions. - development of agricultural production and distribution systems which are ecologically sound and sustainable, socially just, culturally sensitive, which maintains and enhances a viable livelihood for the producer, and which primarily serves local community needs. - empowerment of women to enable them to participate actively and take lead roles in all levels of agricultural development. - develop and strengthen the capacities and potentials of grass roots organizations as key participants in the design, planning, decision-making, strategic and policy level at local, national, regional and global levels.

Key target constituents:

- The producers, - The consuming public and media, - The policy makers - The agricultural education / research / extension services at national, and international levels.

-The central actor, the producer -custodian of the agricultural resource base, needs to be enabled to choose sustainable agriculture practices which maintain or enhance their livelihood. To ensure this requires:

appropriate know-how which is needs focused, - appropriate means, - a supportive political and economic context which prioritizesecological and social sustainability.

Communities, the public and the media, are essential agents for change which can generate a voice fro political action. Consumers and tax-payers are a source of financial support for sustainable agricultural production and the necessary transition toward it.

The overall strategy for change therefore needs to:

- inform all constituents of the problems of current destructive agricultural practices, - research, document and promote positive examples of the alternatives in order to generate an understanding at all levels of the potential social, environmental and economic benefits of sustainable agriculture and its practical implementation. - generate and promote a series of concrete proposals for changes in policy and practice at national and international levels. - build relationships with appropriate international, regional and sectoral development agencies and research institutes to promote the development of sustainable agriculture.

-These activities should be reinforcing and synergistic. They should aim to:

- catalyse appropriate action in key constituents; have a multiplier effect; and leverage existing resources including development assistance into support for an agenda for transition. To achieve maximum impact they will therefore need to be well coordinated, with wide dissemination of information through networks. The activities should build on indigenous knowledge and capacities. They should generate linkages to ensure that expertise and information get to those who need it and to ensure that the research and extension services provided are focussed on needs-driven farmer-centerd sustainable agriculture practices. Essential to this is the development of sustainable curricula's for all forms of education and training. The role of women and their access to resources should be given particular attention and emphasis.

-It will be important to monitor developments in national and international institutions and agencies, and to be able to mobilize efforts to influence the projects and policies as opportunities arise. In doing so, it will be necessary to develop mechanisms and to ensure active participation of grass-roots organizations in the decision making process and to press for their adoption by these institutions.

-The media is a key tool for change: as an education channel, for information exchange, to focus attention and political pressure, and to promote the alternatives.