Thoughts on what Labor Day means stayed with me all week. In reality, it is a tribute to the one who works, i.e. to all human beings: workers, craftsmen, office workers, artists, scientists, experts, farmers, all those who do it within the legal norm and those who are forced by circumstances to consider it illegal, because the value human work is not the type of work that is done, but the fact that it is done by a human being, who alone produces and nourishes science, progress, civilization and culture. Through work, men and women not only change nature by adapting it to their needs, but also contribute to the common good because they act and realize themselves in society.

The tribute on May 1st is for everyone, but in this entry I would like to pay special attention to farmers, those who are in daily contact with the land and what is produced on it, and without whose work we would not be able to survive. It is the right of people to define and control their food and food production systems in a fair and environmentally friendly way. This is what food sovereignty proposes in simple terms.

In Ecuador, Article 281 of the Constitution states that “Food sovereignty represents the strategic goal and obligation of the state to guarantee that individuals, communities, peoples and nationalities achieve self-sufficiency in healthy and culturally appropriate food, permanently.” It is a political proposal to deal with the problem of hunger and malnutrition, and at the same time an ethical conception of the right to food and the duty to respect nature, soil, water, and air.

Reality tells us that we are far from applying the constitutional text. According to official data, 23.1% of children under the age of 5 have chronic malnutrition or stunted growth. In rural communities, this figure is higher, 28.7%, and in the indigenous population, 39%, according to Unicef ​​data.

Paradoxically, places and communities produce most of what we consume at our tables.

Implementing food sovereignty in practice, apart from meeting the needs of the population, is a way of developing the peasant economy and encouraging family production. There are already examples of what can be achieved, and this can be seen in the growing export of non-traditional products, as is well known. Did we know that we will be exporting value added pitahaya, chocho and mote into snacks, chicken and pork? Well yes, they are produced in various provinces and exported to various countries, for example, Spain, Germany, Chile, Colombia, Ivory Coast, United States.

The growth of production for food sovereignty is a priority and that, in addition, we can export at a good time, but for this it is necessary to listen and promote the participation and access of small and medium farmers to finance and technology. (OR)