Declaration

We, the women farmers from Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar and Uttarakhand, observe that the climate of North India is changing fast and is having an adverse impact on our food and economic security.

We wish to articulate that the climate and environmental crises are disproportionately affecting women and girls, leaving us more vulnerable.  We are the farmers, seed savers, caregivers, water stewards and energy and fuel wood managers of our communities.  As women farmers, we struggle to access basic education, information, trainings and opportunities to build our capacities, leadership and improve our economic security. These inequalities are further leaving us vulnerable in the face of the climate crises and are having a devastating impact on our health, well-being and is increasing our labor burden. We fully understand that the livelihood and food security of our families can be sustained only through low external input, non-chemical farming and for this it is important that our natural resources like land, forests, water bodies and pastures lands are conserved.  We can overcome and adapt to changing climate conditions through sustainable agriculture, which integrates local natural resources and local wisdom.

In the third phase of the Women, Food Security and Climate Change Training program, we the women farmers of North India appeal to the government of India, the state governments, donors and civil society that the following key priorities need to be enforced to ensure that women farmers can improve their food security in the face of climate change:

• Conservation of our land and natural resources and ensuring women have access and control over such resources
• Integration of gender in national, state, local climate plans and policies needs to be enforced.. It is necessary that the local area developmental plans are developed with the integration of gender equity on resources.
• Women are the primary seed savers of their communities and are the stewards of India’s biological diversity of crops. In this regard, we believe that our traditional knowledge systems related to indigenous and climate friendly seeds and crops must be promoted and documented to improve the self reliance of farmers. Also, it is essential to revitalize sustainable traditional approaches to farming, along with appropriate technologies and innovations.
• It is important that research and extension on climate resilient agriculture is strengthened, which address the needs and priorities of small women farmers and ensures our participation.
• It is important that more coordinated efforts are made to organize the women farmers of North India and the issues related to rights and interests of women farmers, which help them to deal with climate change impacts and food security, are integrated in the campaigns and movements for women’s rights.
• Pass a law on related to increasing resources in favor of women to enhance their role in the agriculture sector to provide for entitlements in the form of land, credit, services and infrastructure.
• Set aside training budget for women farmers to work closely  with the village Panchayat and District Rural Developmental Agency to make convergence work with regular social audits on who should receive benefits from government schemes and plans.  

Yes, women are farmers!

The struggle to reclaim our rights and identity as women farmers is among the most important struggles in India today.  Women hold the key to food security, and it is important that women’s contributions to agriculture and food security is documented, recognized and celebrated.

The declaration at the third phase of the training organized by WEA and GEAG

Saharanpur

16^th Nov, 2011