Women Farmers who create values WAFF as an innovative leader

Women Advanced Farmers Fed-eration

Women Farmers who create values

WAFF as an innovative leader

Korean Women Farmers Federation (WAFF)


Introduction of WAFF


1. Establishment of WAFF

WAFF was established to (A) strengthen ties between farmers, (B) develop rea-sonable and scientific agriculture management, (C) promote development of agricultural, economic, social condition of women farmers in the communities, (D) empower the rights of women farmers, and (D) initiate actions to protect and inherit indigenous culture to contribute to develop welfare of the agricul-tural community.

Despite the fact that the women have a growing presence in the Korean agricul-ture, women farmers realized that their rights and social status are still largely undermined, on their own determination and a strong will, established the women farmers organization.

1. Background of establishment

2. CharacteristicsWAFF is an initiative and independent non-government organization (NGO), as well as a farmers organization, promoting development of social and economic condition of women farmers and functioning to contribute to the development of community and nation through revival, and sustainable development of agri-culture and agricultural community.


2. Organizational structure

❒ History WAFF was established on August 1, 1996 (organization approved by Ministry of

Agriculture on August, 24, 1996) Established in nine Do (provinces), and one Gwang Yuk Si (Metropolitan City)

(as the end of Dec. 2012) Total of 121 offices in Si (Cities) and Gun (districts)

❒ Structure ❒ Do (Privince) level offices

WAFF(1996. 8. 1)

WAFF(1996. 8. 1)

Kanghwa1999.3.1

Jeju2003.2.21

Kyungnamdo1996.8.23

Kyungbukdo1997.2.17

Jeonamdo2002.8.1

Cheonbukdo1999.11.1

Chungnamdo1996.9.13

Chungbukdo1996.8.1

Kangwondo1996.8.1

Kyunggido1996.8.1WAFF (1)

City, Metropolitan city of-fices (10)

City, District offices (121)

Town offices(1,300)

Members (70,000)


2. Organizational structure (cont.)

❒ Symbol of WAFF, its color and meaning An acronym of WAFF, in Korean as Han Yeo Nong, was structured with

three syllables representing yesterday, today and tomorrow of agriculture.

❒ Main activity To strengthen the organization through member and organization man-

agement To Provide training and education services To collecting public info and participate in policy making process with pro-

posals To organize exchanges between city and agricultural communities To take initiatives to protect farmers’ rights To organize charity and voluntary activities for regional communities To promote inheritance of indigenous and traditional culture To perform International relations and other activities in accordance with

the articles corporation

Han(in red): Solidarity

Yeo(in sea blue): Harmony

Nong(in green): Development


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Activities of WAFF in the past 15

years


1. WAFF Initiatives for policy-making

WAFF played a great role in implementing the Act on Fostering Women Farmers and Fishers as it actively took initiatives to influence the congress, government and society. The Act was enacted on December 2001 and became the funda-mental on which the government policies are based in supporting, nurturing and fostering women farmers in Korea.

1. Enactment of the Act on Fostering Women Farmers and Fishers

2. Initiative to implement ordinance on supporting and fostering women farmers

Currently promoting the Ordinance on Supporting and Fostering Women Farmers, which has been initally implemented in Asan City, Chungnam, be im-plemented throughout cities, and be taken as a basis of a policy system to secure political infrastructure, at which women farmers can participate as a party in the policy making processes.

Not only as an ordinance, but to be taken as a regulation which can be devel-oped into practical projects benefiting women farmers, WAFF is sending re-quests to the candidates in the parliamentary election.


WAFF played an important role in the medical insurance to cover up to 50%, which was only 30% previously. WAFF constantly urged the government for the increase in the health care coverage to enhance health and welfare of women in the agricultural communities.

3. Urging 50% Medical insurance support

4. Securing the legal status of women farmers

Although women account more than 50% of the labor force in the agriculture, they have been recognized as “house wives” and not as “women farmers”.

Based on the consistent efforts and urge of the women farmers for their legal status, the Framework Act of Agriculture, Rural community and Food Industry has been enacted in late 2007, legally accepting anyone who work more than 90days in the agriculture as farmers.

Further, the government announced the amendment 20854 for the Framework Act.

Even with the legal status as women farmers, the act has not been practically helpful for their rights to the insurance coverage in times of accidents, prop-erty ownership, etc.

As claiming legal status as farmers is acquiring a symbolic right, WAFF will put an effort to acquire practical rights to help women farmers.

1. WAFF Initiatives for policy-making


2. WAFF-Main activities

1. Nation-wide conference for Korean Women Farmers

The nation-wide conference for women farmers, one of the largest event fa-cilitated by WAFF, is held on a biannual basis since 2001, holding a Do(province) level conference in one year followed by a Si(city) level confer-ence in the other year, to form and strengthen unity among women farmers and bring out specific action plans as to how and what women farmers can do to promote development of agriculture and to empower women farmers for their rights.


2. “love for Korean rice”- Korea Land pilgrimage event with customers

WAFF independently facilitated the event of Korea Land Pilgrimage entitled “love for Ko-rean rice with customers” in order to propagate the importance and value of locally produced Korean rice.



3. Initiative for the inheritance of traditional culture in the agricultural community

Depicting the portrait of the life of women farmers in the traditional culture that has been largely faded, WAFF published a book entitled “Traditional culture and life of women farmers” to present the vision and prospect of women farmers and women farmers’ organization.



4. Woman Agro Food Fair

The fair was facilitated to bring a place to propose policies for (A) potentials of market penetra-tion and utilization of agro food produced by women farmers, (B) supporting women as leaders of food industry with systematic education.

Among farmers organizations based in Korea, only WAFF is participating in the event, and further, the 4th Women Agro Food Fair will be held on May, 2012.



5. Initiative for the migrated women farmers to happily settle in the community

For smooth and happy settlement of migrated women farmers in the agricultural com-munity, WAFF accepts migrated women farmers as associate members of the organization and take initiatives to work with them to as watchmen to protect the agricultural community.



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Women Advanced Farmers Feder-ation (WAFF)

Main Activities in the year 2012


1. initiative to promote rice consumption – “Sharing Happy Meal Ta-ble”

WAFF organized an campaign to promote the consumption of locally produced rice to

share the social responsibility and affection for the agriculture, locally produced Korean rice, and the agricultural community,

Bring social attention to the marginalized people and children as rice consumers of the future

Main activities of WAFF in 2012


2. Third Korean Women Farmer Award

WAFF selected and award an outstanding women farmer to promote the value of agricul-ture and the farming community, advocate the pride and self-respect as an women farmer, and encourage women farmer who has contributed to the development of orga-nization and the community.

WAFF plans to hold the ceremony in the year of 2012.



3. 2012 Woman Agro Food Fair

WAFF organized a place to propose policies for (A) potentials of agro products produce by women farmers and the potentials of market penetration, and (B) systematic training and education for women farmers as leaders of food industry.

Among farmers organizations in Korea, only WAFF participates the fair. WAFF will organize the 4th Women Agro Food Fair on May 2012.



4. 7th Women Farmers’ Innovative Leader Business Academy

The education program received a presidential award in 2005 in the competi-tion entitled “Searching for hope”. Since 2006 as of 2011, the program pro-duced a total of 110 trainees with certificates and they are actively working in their own fields.



5. Trainings to globalize Korean traditional food

A training where students can learn to protect the value of traditional Korean food and take interdisciplinary classes such food development and cultural marketing to produce new cultural products.



6. Exchange between city and farm villages-students from city experiencing planting rice

To disseminate the importance of bio-industry, and form a consensus about protecting locally produced Korean rice, WAFF organized rice planning program where elementary students visit farm villages during the planting and harvesting seasons and experience the agriculture while women farmers volunteer as teachers.



7. Additional Event to commemorate the National Farmers Day

Organize the festival at which customers and women farmers together consider about the Korean rice and the agriculture and agricultural communities.

Announced the 11th of November be the Garedduk (bar shaped rice cake) day with women farmers.

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8. Protecting farmers’ rights

After Korea-US FTA has been ratified, the government is pursuing Korea-China FTA. Con-flicts and rally again envisioning the FTA is expected to continue in 2012.

WAFF, in cooperation with all other farmers organizations, will protest against the indiscreet FTA negotiations.



9. Special activity – Well-digging in Cambodia

During AFA General Assembly in Cambodia, in April 2011, we were invited to the nearby village in Cambodia. Experiencing the serious issues of lack of drinking water in the village, we planned the well-digging activity after came back in Korea, hoping it would bring another ‘hope'.

WAFF executive members visited Banteay Srei, Siem Reap on Feb 17, providing well facility, and stationary at the provisional school for children who are unable to go to school in the area.



Thank you

Women Farmers who create values WAFF as an innovative leader

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