In 2002, several non-governmental organizations gathered together to discuss trade issues. Supported by OXFAM – Great Britain, an international humanitarian and development agency, the trade meeting resulted in the formation of a loose network called the Philippine Rice Working Group (PRWG).
Apart from the formation of the PRWG, the meeting also resolved to deepen its understanding of rice issues by undertaking a study on the public sector intervention in rice industry in several countries in Southeast Asia plus in the United States.
In December 2004, PRWG held a unity meeting to level off and identify common positions on rice trade and rice industry development in general. It was then that R1 (Rice Watch and Action Network) was coined as the new name of PRWG and has resulted in the formation of its advocacies.
R1's Commitment
They are a group of organizations working individually and collectively to pursue policy changes in rice particularly in the area of trade and the nature of rice farming systems in the Philippines. Their bias is on small farmers and the improvement of their living conditions as well as promoting sustainable and equitable systems and arrangements towards a sustainable development.
This is a network that aims to strengthen existing initiatives of individual member organizations towards the same end.
R1 agrees to pursue a trade campaign that will protect small rice farmers and to pursue a campaign on sustainable agriculture aimed at fostering an economically and environmentally viable rice industry.
R1's Program of Action
R1 agrees to pursue a trade campaign that will protect small rice farmers and to pursue a campaign on sustainable agriculture aimed at fostering an economically and environmentally viable rice industry.
The network is committed to push the following agenda:
