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Dear reader,

We are on the eve of 2010.
Next year will be a challenging one for Agriterra, because ten years ago, the board asked us to show where Agriterra would be a decade later. "Plan 2010" outlined an international Agriterra, with affiliates in several European countries. In their own countries, the affiliates would keep their own strategy to keep the link with their grass roots level and to lobby their government to make funds available. The distribution of those funds for projects would be handled within the international organisation themselves.

With the foundation of AgriCord we indeed started to work this way. The planned expansion to countries such as Italy and Spain and the establishment of private agri-agencies is almost a fact. Other aspects of this plan have not yet been accomplished. For example, the private companies that we wanted to establish and from which we expected that in 2010 the revenues could be used for general purposes.

In 2010 we will evaluate these and other matters, in the light of the disappointing results of fundraising for our kind of work.

The Dutch government is the very positive exception when it comes to fundraising, although also other governments contribute to the program. Yet, the overall contributions received are less than expected.

We have estimated that approximately € 350 million is needed for the farmers' organisations to play their role in the overall effort of governments, social organisations, enterprises and international institutions towards the so-called Millennium Development Goals, especially halving poverty and hunger by 2015.

But if it is almost impossible to raise € 20 million for 2010- have you and everyone in your organisation already signed the petition at www.farmersfightingpoverty.org? - How will we succeed over the next years until 2015 when much more is needed?

The evaluation that we have planned in the first months of 2010 should also give us a prediction of our work in the future. For this evaluation we require cooperation and involvement of our stakeholders, staff, supporting organisations, customers and strategic partners, including the Dutch government. For now, during these last days of this year, there is also a moment of reflection. On behalf of the Board, the Advisory Board and the staff of Agriterra I wish you a prosperous 2010.

Kees Blokland
managing director

Show your outrage at this unacceptable situation and sign the petition at www.farmersfightingpoverty.org!

Fight hunger through investment in farmers’ organisations

On this World Food Day 2009, with the theme "Achieving Food Security in Times of Crisis", the International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP), as part of the 'Farmers Fighting Poverty' program, calls upon governments and funding agencies for a major effort to invest in farmers’ organisations in developing countries. The future of food security hangs in the balance. The 20 billion dollar agricultural investments promised by the G-8 could lead to global food security if farmers’ organisations are the focus of the resources. > read more

Rural tourism development, between dreams and realities

Livelihood diversification has become an important issue in rural areas for farmer organizations, donors and developing countries governments. Not surprisingly, since global surveys suggest that non-farmer sources account for 30-45% of average rural household income with the majority coming from local rural sources rather than urban migration . One popular non-farm sector, both in rural areas in developing as in western countries – is tourism development. Rural tourism has potential to combine economic development and acknowledgment of rural qualities. > read more

"Everything in the Netherlands is big"

Since 2004, BAJK (organisation for young farmers in the southern part of the Netherlands) has been working in partnership with the young farmers of Pasaka on the Philippines. The partnership is focusing on support to the youth chapter within Pasaka, stimulation of and contributing to the economic prospects for young farmers. At the moment, two young Philippine female farmers are visiting BAJK to improve their knowledge about different livelihood subjects, like piggery, growing vegetables and fruits, and of feeding, fertilizers and manure. Also they learn how to initiate study groups in the Philippines to continue the lessons learned in the Netherlands. >read more

BiD challenge

Farmers in Business: An Agriterra business plan competition for agricultural cooperatives and farmers associations > read more

Get to know the farmer from D.R. Congo

The potato production is one of the most biggest productions in D.R. Congo. Gerard Vossen (agripooler of Agriterra) went to this African country for the eighth time, to support the local farmers and farmers’ organisation Sydip by their potato production. > read more

Activities of Agriterra in 2009* (2008)

Amount of projects financed by Agriterra : 285 (255)
Agricultural organisations we have cooperated with: 130 (103)
Amount of countries: 50 (43)
Expenditure: 19,1 (15,8)
Missions: 203 (167)
Dutch experts (AgriPoolers) that went on mission: 78 (81)

*)until December 2009.

Agriterra in the media in 2009 (2008)

Amount of subscriptions to our E-zine: 1.583 (1.506)
Visitors (average per day) of www.agriterra.org: 89 (81)
Agriterra mentioned in articles and websites: 435 (258)

If you are interested in reading more about our activities of last year please visit: www.agriterra.org/activityreport2008

Our organisation

Employés on the 1st of January 2009 : 44
Employés on the 31st of December 2009: 41
Experts participating at Agripool : 963 of which 245 are from the Netherlands and 99 are Dutch farmers (288 in 2008)
Volunteers : 23 (18 in 2007)

P.O. Box 158 / 6800 AD Arnhem / Netherlands  / T +31264455445 / F +31264455978 / E communicatie@agriterra.org