Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) farmers at the climate change conference in Durban Friday reiterated calls for negotiators at the conference of parties to ensure that a work programme for agriculture is included in the agreement text in order to ensure immediate support for farmers.

Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU) Vice President Theo De Jager told the COP17 plenary that agricultural stakeholders had had frank discussions on the serious issues facing farmers and rural communities in Africa and the world.

"It is clear to everyone that, if appropriately assisted, the world's farmers are in a unique position to simultaneously combat global warming and increase food and water security," De Jager said.

SACAU is official observer at the climate change.

The regional farmers' union expects a deal that position farmers to benefit from the Green Climate Fund. SACAU urged COP17 negotiators to agree on a Work Programme for agriculture under the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) as part of the agreement in Durban.

"Agriculture is the only industry that can give the planet adaptation, mitigation and food security benefits and a SBSTA work programme is an important first step to ensuring these benefits can be achieved," De Jager said.

He said such a work programme could give farmers, scientists, policy makers and civil society a mechanism to assess and understand all the agricultural systems, tools and concepts available for adaptation and mitigation.

"A work programme can provide farmers and their countries the opportunity to decide the appropriate development path of their agriculture sector, and the resources they need to achieve this. It is essential that you find the political will to initiate this work programme," he urged.

Africa is looking upon their negotiators to ensure the conference calumniates to a deal that cushion the continent to dealing with impacts of climate change. Negotiators are rounding- up their talks behind closed doors and results are expected before the end of the day.

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