Canada-Cuba Farmer-to-Farmer Project Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit [NOTE: In the last three years the Canada-Cuba Farmer to Farmer Project has taken 8 delegations of Canadian farmers to Cuba - 137 in all; in 1999 they raised $90,000 in two months to bring 27 cuban farmers to canada for 3 weeks. For this work, the Farmer to Farmer Project's Wendy Holm was named Agrologist of the Year 2000 in British Columbia (the highest professional honour). Holm, a Bowen Island, B.C.-based agrologist, resource economist, columnist and author says the farmer tours are the seedbed for what she sees as larger work: in the medium term, the development of bilateral cooperative projects such as PROJECT ONE (see the project's website at http://www.farmertofarmer.ca ) and in the longer term, the creation of a new black box for farmer-led international cooperative joint venture initiatives.] source - "Wendy Holm, P.Ag." AS US FARMERS CLAMOR FOR ACCESS, CANADA'S FARMERS WELCOMED BY CUBAN GOVERNMENT BOWEN ISLAND, BC, Dec 17--As agri-food transnational Archer Daniels Midland and others lobby Washington for increased access to the Cuban market, Canadian farmers are being given the red carpet treatment by the Cuban government. This, thanks to the Canada-Cuba Farmer to Farmer Project. Now in it's third year, award-winning Agrologist and Project Leader Wendy Holm says farmer response has been enthusiastic. "When our first Delegation went down in 1999, we were aware of Cuba's leadership in organic agriculture. What we weren't prepared for, as we stood on the edge of fields of dead-straight rows of organic vegetables converging on the horizon as far as the eye could see, was the vast scale at which organic agriculture is being undertaken in Cuba. On large cooperative farms by literate and capable farmers supported by effective agricultural extension." In 1999, Cuba won Sweden's Right Livelihood Award for global leadership in organic production. In three years, the Project has taken 8 delegations of farmers to Cuba - 137 in all from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario. But beyond organic, what this Project is really all about, according to Holm, is economic sustainability: "These visits lay the seedbed for the development of an international model for cooperative engagement between farmers in both countries" says Holm. "A model that links farming, health, cooperation, environment, nutrition, ethics and community to capture back margins now controlled by concentrated market players=8A It's called taking back the playing field..." Their first cooperative project will give Cuba access to Canadian dairy expertise to increase milk production at a large dairy cooperative in Holguin province. In return, Canada will gain access to a team of Cuban experts to assist in establishing a centre of excellence for commercial-scale organic techniques in Canada. "The concerns of Canada's farmers are legitimate and pressing. =46armers are facing a dramatic fall in farm income, a dramatic increase in farm debt and a very worrisome drop in the ability to continue to make independent stewardship decisions" says Holm. Calling her leadership of this Project "an affair of the professional heart," Holm sees it as one of the solutions needed to strategically address Canada's farm crisis. "In the end, the issue comes down to one of respect," says Holm. "The Cubans put it quite simply: a country that does not respect its farmers cannot survive. How can we communicate this simple message before it is too late? We've moved dangerously close to the brink. We may be able to take a logger and retrain them to work in the service industry, but we can't take a shop clerk and train them to farm. Once we lose our farmers, once those who have tended the land to produce food for Canadians pick up their chouse from the auctioneer, pay off the banks and move to the suburbs, there will be no recalling them. And no replacing them. This Project is about addressing that." There will be three farmer delegations to Cuba this winter, departing January 28, February 18th and March 11th. Contact Holm for further details at 604.947.2893 (email: website: www.farmertofarmer.ca). Background: December 7, 2001 CANADA-CUBA FARMER TO FARMER PROJECT GOES NATIONAL BOWEN ISLAND, BC, Dec 7--The Canada-Cuba Farmer to Farmer Project, now in its fourth year, has "gone national." Wendy Holm, BC-based Agrologist and Project Leader, says this expansion is appropriate, given the crisis facing Canada's farmers. "Stewardship is the value-added Canada's farmers put on the table alongside the milk, the potatoes and the eggs" says Holm. "Problem is, the market doesn't value it. And after a decade of cuts, Canada now ranks lowest amongst OECD nations in terms of farm supports. No wonder we're in crisis... Visiting the farms of Cuba is an inspiration. And an important strategic direction for Canada's farmers." When the Soviet Union collapsed, Cuba's farm sector was thrown into turmoil. Two years ago, Cuba won the prestigious Right Livelihood Award of the Swedish Parliament for their global leadership in large scale organic crop production methods. In three years, Holm has led nine delegations of farmers - 165 in all, 138 from Canada and 27 from Cuba - to "stand on each other's land" and strengthen cooperative linkages on matters of sustainable farm stewardship. According to Holm, these visits "lay the seedbed" for the development of an international model for cooperative engagement between farmers in both countries that links together farming, health, cooperation, environment, nutrition, ethics and community. Holm was named BC Agrologist of the Year 2000 for her work. "One of the most dramatic lessons to be learned from Cuba's success in learning to grow foodcrops without chemicals is that large scale commercial organic agriculture is fully do-able" says Holm. "When our first Delegation visited Cuba in 1999, we knew Cuba had developed remarkable expertise in organic production methods. What we weren't unprepared for, as we stood on the edge of fields of dead-straight rows of organic vegetables converging on the horizon as far as the eye could see, was the VAST SCALE at which organic agriculture was being undertaken on large cooperative farms by literate and capable farmers and supported by effective agricultural extension." The aim of the Canada Cuba Farmer to Farmer Project is to cooperatively capture back margins that are now soaked up by market concentration in the pre and post-farm gate sectors. "Adding value doesn't have to mean building a potato chip mill at the end of the drive way or opening a farm bed and breakfast" says Holm. "What we need is to add market value to the stewardship activities our farmers are already leaders at undertaking. In concert with farmers in other countries with whom we have a strategic advantage. It's called taking back the playing field." In the end, Holm feels the issue comes down to one of respect: "The Cubans put it quite simply: a country that does not respect its farmers cannot survive. How can we communicate this simple message before it is too late? We've moved dangerously close to the brink. You may be able to take a logger and retrain them to work in the service industry, but you can't take a shop clerk and train them to farm. Once we lose our farmers, once those who have tended the land to produce food for Canadians pick up their cheques from the auctioneer, pay off the banks and move to the suburbs, there will be no recalling them. And no replacing them." Canada-Cuba Farmer to Farmer tours are organized for January 28th, February 18th and March 11th. Delegates spend three days on Varadero beach, eight days traveling through Cuban countryside visiting large cooperative farms and three days exploring Old Havana. This year, the Project is welcoming farmers from across Canada. Contact Wendy Holm, P.Ag. for more information. phone: 604-947-2893, email: http://www.farmertofarmer.ca> -30- ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytenv-12.31.01-06:13:32-26938