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South Asian Regional Conference on Food Sovereignty, Agrarian Reforms
and Peasants' Rights
8-9 July 2008
Kathmandu, Nepal
Food sovereignty is a thought provoking issue throughout the world and the most relevant in South Asian context today. As a basic human right it is concerned not only with peoples' right to food but also with various foods, means and resources of production as seeds, fertilizer, land, water, market and technology. Right, freedom, control, protection and management of the producer's labor and ecology are inalienable to food sovereignty. For a more practical implementation of food sovereignty, the importance of genuine agrarian reform and peasants' rights cannot be estimated that easily. An unequal distribution of land and lack of constitutional rights of peasants are prevalent in the countries whether developed or the underdeveloped. Therefore, genuine land reforms assuring peasants' access to and control over land resources are fundamental requirements, along with the protection of indigenous knowledge system and practices for a real implementation of food sovereignty. In this regard, ANPFa organized South Asian conference on Food Sovereignty, Genuine Agrarian Reforms and Peasants' Rights dated on 8-9 July 2008.
 The program commenced on 8th July with the inauguration by Mr. Jhalanath Khanal, Genaral Secretary of CPN (UML), continued with presentations and discussions on food sovereignty, agrarian reforms and peasants' rights and concluded with a speech by Mr. Prachanda, Chairman of CPN(Maoist) in The Malla Hotel, Lainchaur, Kathmandu on 9th July. On conclusion, it issued the Kathmandu Declaration, which has got the commitment from the top leaders from CPN (UML) and CPN (Maoist).
Mr. Jhalanath Khanal was the chief guest on the first day program which was chaired by Mr. Bam Dev Gautam. Some other remarkable guests included Keshav Lal Badal, standing committee member of CPN (UML), Arjun Karki, Chairman of the NGO Federation of Nepal, and Prof. Dr. Pradeep Khadka, Chief of the Central Department of Rural Development, Tribhuvan University . It also had the representatives from other peasants' organizations from Nepal , Bangladesh , India and Pakistan . Similarly, Tek Bahadur Thapa, Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Baburam Acharya, Secretary of the Ministry of Land Reformation and Management, and Honorable Vim Neupane, Member of National Planning Commission represented the Government of Nepal.
Mr. Jhalanath Khanal inaugurated the conference by sowing some grain seeds and watering them. As a chief guest Mr. Khanal delivered a short speech on the occasion. He highlighted the special time and context of the program with Nepal in the brink of a great change and the world rolling with the increasingly greater influence of globalization which has created opportunities as well as the challenges to the people. He maintained that we are in the continent which has suffered overpopulation, poverty, and dominance and exploitation by means of colonialism and imperialism.
He takes the location of Nepal not as unfortunate but as luck. But what is unfortunate is that we have never been able to come out of feudalism. We have been able to hold successfully the election of the Constitutional Assembly but he laments indicating the then obstruction of the Constitution Assembly by some Terai based parties that it is completely unethical not to let the people decide and exercise their rights and freedom through their representatives. What these parties are doing is also against the mandate of all people of Terai. He warns that because of such activities of these parties, peoples' dreams and expectations, rights and freedom are at stake.
He proudly announced that the peaceful abolition of the monarchy is a historic achievement for all the Nepalese and a great example to the world. But it is also necessary that the reactionary, regressive and feudalistic structures must be eliminated forever.
We are striving forward for nation building for which the genuine land reform and agricultural revolution are essential. While 40% people remain under poverty in Nepal , ensuring food, clothes and shelter for all is the basic requirement for any step forward.
Now Nepalese are going to have an ideal situation for the implementation of land reformation policies and programs. Communist forces have occupied about 60% seats in the Constitutional Assembly which means the peoples' mandate for change.
He assures that CPN (UML) can lead to uproot the feudal structures. He calls for unity so that various reforms, changes, and rights and freedom of the people can be guaranteed along with the breakthrough of the present crisis and challenges. Though some Madhesi parties stand apart, as he points out, two-third majority of the three parties demonstrates that they should stand together to concretize and institutionalize the wish of the people.
Criticizing the regionalist stance of the Madhesi leaders he suggests that they establish themselves as national leaders. He takes about 1.1 million votes for Madhesi parties and 9.5 million votes for other parties as the proof that Nepalese people want national unity and integrity reminding the fact that non-Madhesi parties had advocated for national unity. Therefore consensus among us is vital for the formation of new constitution.
Mr. Khanal concluded that globalization has brought about risks in our identity and nationality. We must establish the rights of the people, secure them with constitutional bases and protect food sovereignty of the people to defend and moderate the effects of globalization.
On the occasion many guests from home and other countries like Bangladesh , India and Pakistan also expressed their views on the issue. The speakers included the representatives from all the peasants' organizations.
Concluding the inaugural session, Chairperson Mr. Bam Dev Gautam thanked all the speakers, guests and participants. While Mr. Jhalanath Khanal was leaving for the day's meeting of the Constitutional Assembly, Mr. Gautam requested him to play an effective role for formulation of food sovereignty policies, laws and rights. Supporting Mahadev Das's statement he said that only peasants should have the right to land. He recommended Mr. Badal, whom he identifies to be the continuous bearer of cooperative movement, to take the leading role in the movement. He was thankful to the representatives of the government as he said that invaluable ideas, commitments and cooperation from "reformed" bureaucracy are essential for development.
The second day was mostly dominated by presentations mainly on food sovereignty, agrarian reforms and peasants' rights. In this presentation program chaired by Mr. Pradeep and Mr. Hari Parajuli, Rezaul Karim Chowdhury's presentation was on conceptual clarity of food sovereignty. He represented Equity and Justice Working Group from Bangladesh .
The second presentation was a panel discussion on Food Sovereignty: Concepts and Challenges by Mr. Prem Dangal, Secretary General of All Nepal Peasants' Federation. Food Crisis, Sustainable Agriculture and Nepal was the topic of presentation by Dr. Keshav Khadka, NCM of ANPFa.
The second day program commenced with a presentation by Ms. Sabaine from FIAN International, Germany then Mr. Prachanda's arrival and speech which was followed by other presentations and discussions. The session after Mr. Prachanda's arrival which was named the session of political commitments was chaired by Mr. Keshavlal Shrestha. While Mr. Prachanda was the chief guest other guests included Mr. Bishnu Paudel, Ms. Radha Gyawali and Mr. Bamdev Gautam.
The session after Mr. Prachanda's arrival was named the session of political commitments-as Mr. Hari Parajuli said representatives in Constitutional Assembly have to show their commitments that new constitution will address the issues raised in the conference. Mr. Prachanda in his speech hailed the program for its relevance. He agreed that peasants' condition, their movements, experiments and experiences determine the future changes. With references to recent political changes in Nepal he said that if we are able to institutionalize these positive changes, it will in fact convey a positive message in South Asia . Political commitments on education, health, employment and peasants' rights have remained some remarkable achievements. He expressed that food sovereignty must be included in the next constitution without any hurdles.
Mr. Prachanda said showing the need of still more genuine changes that monarchy is not feudalism but an ideology and culture. Feudalism doesn't end only with the overthrow of monarchy-though major king is eliminated, "minor kings" still exist. Thus to eliminate the minor kings along with the bases of feudalism, genuine land reform and agrarian reform are essential. He agrees that scientific land reform is the genuine or revolutionary land reform.
In spite of the conspiracies to break apart the communists in Nepal , he said, communists have shown the sign of unity among themselves. He at the same time made aware of the conspiracies of breaking the relationship with the peasants. Finally, Mr. Prachanda expressed his commitment that new constitution will institutionalize the declaration of the conference.
The next sessions involved presentations and discussions. Ms. Ujjaini Halim from India presented a critical appraisal on Genuine Agrarian Reform in India : Achievements and Challenges. Mr. Dharma Dutta Devkota held a presentation and panel discussion on Agrarian Reforms. Mr. Qumar Moyudin from Pakistan took the next turn presenting on Peasants' Rights. Last but not the least was Mr. Sharada Prasad Subedi, who presented and held discussion on Peasants' Rights. Finally, all the Peasant representatives agreed and issued the Katmandu Declaration.
All Nepal Peasants' Federation
P.O.Box No. : 273 Lalitpur,
Tel :977-1-4288404
Fax : 977-1-4288403
Email :
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Personal Cell No. 977-9851018248
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