the world of organic agriculture - Organic Eprints

Organic agriculture raises self-confidence and autonomy
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The World of Organic Agriculture 2006
Conventional agriculture robs farmers of their responsibility. Organic agriculture highly respects
indigenous knowledge, women’s knowledge and local solutions. Thus the producers gain
control over the production cycle and gain more self-confidence. Locally and internationally
organic producers play an active role in advancing their production methods and in developing
standards.
Picture 5: A group of Kaki producers in the region of Valandovo, south Macedonia, has converted their
production into organic and formed an association. This allows them to access better and bigger markets
for their products, which may positively influence their economic conditions. They receive consultancy on
production techniques and marketing opportunities. The consultants have been trained in the frame of a FiBL
project in Macedonia, which aims at developing organic agriculture in the country as a whole. It is financed
by SDC (Swiss Development Cooperation Agency). The project offers knowledge transfer to the government,
teaching institutions as well as to farmers’ organizations and market partners.
Photograph Marlene Heeb, FiBL