The existing land possession system is blamed for the failure in attaining the desired success in the agriculture sector.

Speaking at an interaction on ‘Role of Media on Food Sovereignty, Climate Change and Poverty Reduction’, speakers said that the real tillers should have access to productive resources including land by eliminating feudal land ownership system.

Bam Dev Gautam, vice-chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist and Leninist) and president of the All Nepal Peasants’ Federation called for altering the existing semi-feudal land ownership system.

"The land possession system is still semi-feudal.

It should be transferred and the real farmers should own the land," he said adding that the land should be used as a means of production not mere property.

He further said that the new constitution that the country was going to draft should ensure food sovereignty and food security for all.

He asked the journalists to help sensitise the farmers’ issues related to agriculture sector in the country.

"The role of media remains crucial in sensitising farmers on various agricultural issues."

Prem Dangal, general secretary of the ANPFa, said that the food security of the country had been severely endangered.

He said that the food security was to identify the priority crops according to the quality of the land, climate, environment and geographical specialties so that production could be increased.

The South Asian Alliance for Poverty Eradication Co-ordinator Dr. Sarbaraj Khadka called on the political parties and other concerned authorities for ending the food politics.

More than 40 journalists and peasant leaders participated in the programme.

The programme was organised by All Nepal Peasant Federation and South Asian Alliance for Poverty Eradication.

The main objective of the programme was to familiarise the concept of food sovereignty, support them and get their contribution in food sovereignty, climate change and right to food issues and build solidarity between the media persons.

source:Risingnepal(2010),"Land possession system faulty",Risingnepal,27 June 2010