Agriculture takes up a large part of our daily lives and about a third of the earth’s surface (United Nations Environment Programme 1). Many rural activities take place on the land (earth’s surface) making it susceptible to exploitation and bad management. It is therefore the prerogative of farmers and ranchers to conserve and manage their physical environment because this serves as their major source of sustenance. One of the major ways they can do this is through the help of farmer organizations playing important parts in the policy formulation of the agricultural sector in whatever region they find themselves.
Farmers and farmer organizations should be very important players in the policy formation process of the government because they ‘lend a voice’ to poorly formed policies and play a strategic role in correcting or reshaping such policies. When farmers and ranchers involve themselves in the policy formulation process, it helps to articulate their needs and interests not just of the private farming sector, but of the public sector as well and further encourage larger institutions to construct their strategies to meet the needs of farmers.
When it comes to the economic and agricultural policies and strategies that are adopted by the government for the farmers, it is very essential that the farmers’ interests are protected before they are adopted and implemented by the government. This should be the case for the following reasons;
Involving farmers and ranch owners in the decision making process helps not only to meet regulations and requirements for public participation, but it ensures that the government has a fair idea of what expectations and challenges need to be addressed in the agricultural sector.
Secondly, it creates room for better and more quality decisions and outcomes. This is so because it provides the government with more accurate information from the scientific and technical perspective. It also provides an additional perspective on issues and trends in the sector and this helps in increasing the value and quality of any decision taken or policy being made. (Bryson and Carol 1)
Thirdly, engaging farmers and their co-members in the industry helps to identify current and potential problems that are plaguing the sector and provides a wider range of options to solving them. This can also increase the prospects for better relationships, better conflict management and a stronger support system where necessary.
Fourthly, this type of involvement encourages higher levels of professionalism because of the accountability factor. If farmers and the co-workers in the industry are aware that there are certain guiding principles and laws that govern their daily work, they will be careful to ensure that they engage in best practice in all ramifications of their profession so as not to be held accountable for any inconsistencies. (Food and Agriculture Organization of The United Nations 1) Farmers are therefore encouraged to strive to be part of these organizations and ultimately the decision making process of the government at all times.
Works Cited
Food and Agriculture Organization of The United Nations. The Role of Intermediate Organizations: Agricultural Professional Organizations and Farmers' Associations. 11 May 2016. <http://www.ciesin.columbia.edu/decentralization/English/Issues/farmerorg.html>.
J.M. Bryson, A.R. Carol. Why Should Decision Makers Involve Others? 2007. 11 May 2016 <http://www.extension.umn.edu/community/civic-engagement/tip-sheets/decision-makers-involve-others/>.
United Nations Environment Programme. Strengthening The Role of Farmers. 11 May 2016. <http://www.unep.org/documents.multilingual/default.asp?DocumentID=52&ArticleID=82&l=en>.
