Committee for the Abolition of Illegitimate Debt

We, as like-minded civil society organizations in Japan, call on the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), for the immediate suspension and fundamental review of the ProSAVANA program. ProSAVANA is a large-scale agricultural development program in Mozambique, conducted as part of Japan’s official development assistance ODA
Official Development Assistance Official Development Assistance is the name given to loans granted in financially favourable conditions by the public bodies of the industrialized countries. A loan has only to be agreed at a lower rate of interest than going market rates (a concessionary loan) to be considered as aid, even if it is then repaid to the last cent by the borrowing country. Tied bilateral loans (which oblige the borrowing country to buy products or services from the lending country) and debt cancellation are also counted as part of ODA. Apart from food aid, there are three main ways of using these funds: rural development, infrastructures and non-project aid (financing budget deficits or the balance of payments). The latter increases continually. This aid is made “conditional” upon reduction of the public deficit, privatization, environmental “good behaviour”, care of the very poor, democratization, etc. These conditions are laid down by the main governments of the North, the World Bank and the IMF. The aid goes through three channels: multilateral aid, bilateral aid and the NGOs. (ODA) and initiated by the governments of Japan, Brazil and Mozambique. This statement is based on the gravity of concerns repeatedly expressed by the farmers and civil society organizations of Mozambique, as well as on the findings of our field research conducted between July and August this year in Mozambique.

Background

ProSAVANA will potentially affect 14 million hectares of land in three northern provinces of Mozambique, an area inhabited by more than 4 million people. The area is equivalent to three times of all the farmland in Japan. Farmers represent over 80% of the entire population in Mozambique. Small-scale farmers make up the overwhelming majority (99.99%) of these farmers and work 95% of all cultivated land in Mozambique. However, under ProSAVANA, farmers have not been respected as right-holders nor have their participation in the program been duly ensured. The National Union of Peasants (UNAC), the largest farmers confederation in Mozambique composed of 2,200 farmers organizations, and civil society organizations have repeatedly raised their concerns regarding the possible negative impacts of large-scale agricultural development and investment schemes of ProSAVANA on the livelihoods of the local small-scale farmers.

It is worth highlighting the importance and significance of the Open Letter, which was released ahead of the Fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V) on May 28, 2013. 23 organizations representing farmers, religious groups and civil society in Mozambique came together to draft, sign and release this Open Letter addressed to the respective heads of state of Mozambique, Japan and Brazil. The Open Letter, calling for the immediate suspension of ProSAVANA, is unprecedented both in representation and gravity as an objection to aid programs in Mozambique. Mozambican representatives travelled to Japan and successfully hand-delivered the Open Letter to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the sidelines of TICAD V this June.

With such developments taking place, Japanese civil society organizations have been engaging with MOFA/JICA on ProSAVANA through the established periodic consultative meetings between Japanese NGOs and MOFA. The importance of consulting local farmers and civil society was recognized in these meetings, and the governments promised to review the program in order to enable the participation of local farmers and civil society.

However, the drafting of the master plan, the preparation of Quick Impact Projects (QIP) (programs where “quick impacts” and visible outcomes are expected), and pilot projects funded by the ProSAVANA Development Initiative Fund (PDIF) continued to be prepared and implemented without review. Information disclosure remained to be limited, and neither transparency nor accountability improved in the process. Consequently, anxiety has increased among local farmers and civil society organizations. In addition, no official response has been made to date on the Open Letter, and though cursory consultation meetings have been held with limited participants, it has only served to deepen the concerns and increase the distrust of the majority of farmers and civil society.

At the same time, incidences of land grabs, by both international and domestic investment and businesses in the Nacala Corridor, are being witnessed at an alarming scale. Pressure on land is increasing, and so are conflicts over land. Local farmers in vulnerable positions have been forced off their land, and pushed into hunger and poverty. Local farmers raising their voices have been reportedly harassed and threatened.

ProSAVANA, as it stands, threatens the livelihood of the local small-scale farmers, and risks the destabilization of Mozambican society. It also raises questions concerning the respectability and legitimacy of Japanese official development assistance. We, as like-minded organizations of Japanese civil society, hereby request the government of Japan to initiate the immediate suspension of, and fundamental review of ProSAVANA.

Requests

1. We request the Japanese government to immediately reply, in writing, to the Open Letter, submitted by the Mozambican civil society dated 28^th of May 2013. This reply should specifically provide a direct response to the immediate suspension of ProSAVANA as requested in the Open Letter.

2. The environmental, political, and social context in Mozambique has deteriorated since the signing of the ProSAVANA agreement in 2009. There have been increased incidents of environmental degradation and of land conflicts arising from land grabbing. Political space to question government policies has steadily decreased. We request that a renewed and independent field research be conducted in the pertinent areas, and that appropriate consultations be held with local farmers and civil society. The fundamental framework of the ProSAVANA should be revisited according to the results.

3. In the consultative meetings held between MOFA/JICA and Japanese civil society groups, the fundamental review of the consultation process with local farmers and civil society was agreed upon. However, not only has the consultation process failed to improve, but the process has increased mistrust toward the program amongst the civil society groups of Nampula and Niassa Provinces, and also among the farmers associations and civil society groups representing the whole of Mozambique. We request that the Japanese government make an effort to accurately understand this situation, and to clarify how and why UNAC and other member organizations of UNAC, which not only legitimately represent the small farmers of Mozambique, but have been extensively involved in the discussion, were excluded from the various discussion arrangements under ProSAVANA.

4. In the fourth and fifth consultative meetings held between Japanese civil society and MOFA/JICA, both of which took place after the delivery of the Open Letter, MOFA/JICA emphasized that ProSAVANA would only be implemented after a thorough consultation process. However, the second round of submissions for the PDIF opened in July, despite an absence of progress in the consultation process, serving only to further deepen local confusion and mistrust. We request that the Japanese government make an assessment of facts, and clarify how and why project implementation proceeded regardless of the promises made.

5. The consultation process with local farmers and civil society should fully uphold the principles of free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC), and must ensure sufficient disclosure of information and accountability. In due consideration of both the scale and gravity of impact the program is foreseen to have on the local communities, it is absolutely crucial to ensure the meaningful participation of local farmers and civil society in the process. We request MOFA/JICA to immediately suspend the program, and engage in dialogue with local farmers and civil society on how to move forward.

6. 2014 is the International Year of Family Farming, where the importance of family farming will be recognized and celebrated internationally. Concurrently in Mozambique, farmers represented by UNAC, together with civil society, are preparing the “National Plan for the Support of Family Farming.” If ProSAVANA purports to support the Mozambican farmers, it would be most appropriate to recognize and provide due support for such initiatives. We request that MOFA/JICA consider and respond to this proposal.

7. ProSAVANA promotes the registration of land titles (DUAT) with the purpose of facilitating investment. However, the premise nor implications of DUAT registration is not yet fully understood by the local farmers, and public debate regarding land policy in Mozambique has only begun. The Mozambique Land Act recognizes the right to land use based on customary tenure without the registration of DUAT. The hasty promotion of DUAT registration risks limiting present and future land rights for farmers. We request that farmers are provided appropriate support enabling them to uphold their rights to their land.

Signatory Organizations:

ATTAC Japan
Citizens Concerned with the Development of Mozambique
Africa Japan Forum (AJF)
Japan International Volunteer Center (JVC)
Oxfam Japan

Endorsing Organizations (31 organizations as of November 8, 2013):

アジア太平洋資料センター(Pacific Asia Resource Center)
アジア農民交流センタ-(Asian Farmers’ Exchange Center/AFEC)
アイヌ民族評議会(APC)
遺伝子組み換え食品いらない!キャンペーン (No! GMO Genetically Modified Organisms
GMO Living organisms (plant or animal) which have undergone genetic manipulation in order to modify their characteristics, usually to make them resistant to a herbicide or pesticide. In 2000, GMOs were planted over more than 40 million hectares, three quarters of that being soybeans and maize. The main countries involved in this production are the USA, Argentina and Canada. Genetically modified plants are usually produced intensively for cattle fodder for the rich countries. Their existence raises three problems.


 The health problem. Apart from the presence of new genes whose effects are not always known, resistance to a herbicide implies that the producer will be increasing use of the herbicide. GMO products (especially American soybeans) end up gorged with herbicide whose effects on human health are unknown. Furthermore, to incorporate a new gene, it is associated with an antibiotic-resistant gene. Healthy cells are heavily exposed to the herbicide and the whole is cultivated in a solution with this antibiotic so that only the modified cells are conserved.


 The legal problem. GMOs are only being developed on the initiative of big agro-business transnationals like Monsanto, who are after the royalties on related patents. They thrust aggressively forward, forcing their way through legislation that is inadequate to deal with these new issues. Farmers then become dependent on these firms. States protect themselves as best they can, but often go along with the firms, and are completely at a loss when seed thought not to have been tampered with is found to contain GMOs. Thus, genetically modified rape seed was destroyed in the north of France in May 2000 (Advanta Seeds). Genetically modified maize on 2600 ha in the southern French department of Lot et Garonne was not destroyed in June 2000 (Golden Harvest). Taco Bell corn biscuits were withdrawn from distribution in the USA in October 2000 (Aventis). Furthermore, when the European Parliament voted on the recommendation of 12/4/2000, an amendment outlining the producers’ responsibilities was rejected.


 The food problem. GMOs are not needed in the North where there is already a problem of over-production and where a more wholesome, environmentally friendly agriculture needs to be promoted. They are also useless to the South, which cannot afford such expensive seed and the pesticides that go with it, and where it could completely disrupt traditional production. It is clear, as is borne out by the FAO, that hunger in the world is not due to insufficient production.

For more information see Grain’s website : https://www.grain.org/. Campaign)
(株)オルター・トレード・ジャパン(Alter Trade Japan)
(特活)アジア・アフリカと共に歩む会(Together with Africa and Asia Association)
(特活)アフリカ地域開発市民の会(Community Action Development Organization)
(特活)
「環境・持続社会」
研究センター (Japan Center for a Sustainable Environment and Society)
(特活)ハンガー・フリー・ワールド(Hunger Free World)
(特活)関西 NGO 協議会 (Kansai NGO Council)
(特活)国際協力 NGO センター(Japan NGO Center for International Cooperation)
(特活)名古屋 NGO センター (Nagoya NGO Center)
(特活)APLA (Alternative People’s Linkage in Asia)
(特活)NGO 福岡ネットワーク(Fukuoka NGO Network)
(特活)WE21 ジャパン (WE21 Japan)
偽百姓 今日もみんなで、おいしくごはん (Gihyakusho)
子どもたちの未来を創る会 (Kodomotachino miraiwo tsukurukai)
全日本農民組合連合会 (All Japan Federation of Farmers Union)
認定 NPO 法人 FoE Japan (Friends of the Earth Japan)
反農薬東京グループ (No Pesticides Tokyo Action Network)
一般財団法人
北海道国際交流センター(Hokkaido International Foundation)
北海道 NGO ネットワーク協議会 (Hokkaido NGO Network Council)
北海道アイヌ協会札幌支部 (Hokkaido Ainu Council Sapporo)
ムラ、マチネット (Mura-Machi Net)
有限会社メノビレッジ長沼 (Meno Villege Naganuma)
ComiccAFRICA
No! to Land Grab, Japan
NPO 法人
AM ネット (Advocacy and Monitoring Network on Sustainable Development)
NPO 法人さっぽろ自由学校「遊」(Sapporo Free School YUU)
ODA 改革ネットワーク (ODA Reform Network)
TPP を考える市民の会 (Citizens Group Considered about TPP)