Many organizations and institutions are relevant, but for this option to be feasible, a selection of the most central organizations and institutions is probably necessary. These are some options:

  • Farmers' organizations
  • Parliamentary committees vested with agriculture
  • Relevant departments/units and/or agencies in the ministry of agriculture
  • Institutions involved in extension services to farmers
  • Relevant research institutions
  • NGOs engaged in crop genetic resources and Farmers' Rights
  • Central seed corporations and/or plant breeding institutions


Seminars and/or workshops can be designed mainly with lectures, information sharing, in more interactive ways, or as a combination of these methods. Probably the effect is higher, the more the participants are involved in the seminars/workshops. Also, the effect is probably higher, if there are more than one seminar or workshop in each organization and institution, perhaps rather a series, so that reflections on the topic can mature and the understanding be deepened.

You can read more about the contents relevant for such workshops and/or seminars here and about inspiring success stories illustrating Farmers' Rights here. Where to put the emphasis depends on the level of knowledge and awareness in the respective institutions. Central questions to rise in a workshop or seminar based on, and guided by, these contents can be:

  • What contents of Farmers' Rights are important in our country?
  • Why are Farmers' Rights important in our country?
  • What can our institution do to protect and promote Farmers' Rights? 

 

Advantages:

  • This approach is useful to make central institutions aware of their roles and potential contributions to the realization of Farmers' Rights.
  • By offering tailor made seminars or workshops to institutions, the number of participants from each of the institution will be higher than with any of the other options highlighted here.
  • Shared experiences in an institution increase the probability that the institution can take action with regard to the issue.


Disadvantages:

  • This approach is particularly demanding because it involves many workshops and seminars.
  • The approach does not contribute to broadening the perspectives across institutions and sectors.