The 2nd African Organic Conference – Mainstreaming ... - ICROFS

2 nd AFRICAN ORGANIC CONFERENCE 2012
May 2-4, 2012 in Lusaka, Zambia
GMOs. These are being promoted by UN agriculture organizations, industry, farming organizations
agricultural departments and academics as the future for Africa.
These groups are arguing that CA is superior to OA, because OA still uses tillage and because the over use
of tillage can damage soils, CA must have better soil quality and is better for sequestering CO 2 into the soil
to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
These types of arguments need to be countered by promoting the viable organic forms of OA based on
published literature and recognized good practices. This includes the published peer reviewed research
comparing organic tillage with conventional tillage and no-tillage systems which show that the organic
systems have better soil quality including higher levels of CO 2 sequestration. Published data on adaptation
shows that organic systems are more resilient in the climate extremes that are already occurring due to
climate change. This is particularly important for African farmers as they are considered the most
vulnerable to the weather extremes caused by climate change.
Other important areas of emerging organic practices are the new FiBL and Rodale no-till/low-till systems
as well as Pasture Cropping in Australia. These organic no-till/low-till systems are showing good data on
significantly lower energy use coupled with higher levels of soil CO 2 sequestration and high yields. They
check all the boxes.
Very critically given that most of Africa and the world’s agriculture is practiced by small holders on less
than 2 hectares, proven smallholder no/low till systems such as those advocated by Fukuoka and Agroecology
such successional agroforestry systems as well as the hand roller cover crop systems from Rodale
need to be promoted.
The clear benefits of composting combined strategic correct tillage methods as practiced in Tigray,
Ethiopia and at Sekem, Egypt, need be promoted as proven forms of Climate Smart Agriculture that clearly
fit within the paradigm of Conservation Agriculture.
There has been no acknowledgement of the key role of the organic movement in relation to the methods
used in CSA until the South Africa President, Jacob Zuma, gave an address to the high level summit on
CSA that clearly articulate the multiple benefits of OA.
Climate Change is a major priority for IFOAM. IFOAM is an umbrella organization composed of over 750
member organizations in 116 countries. Our member organizations potentially represent several million
famers. Most of these farmers are smallholders in developing countries and are some of the most vulnerable
people to the extremes of climate change. To this end IFOAM would like to assist with the development of
CSA to ensure that farmers have a choice between organic or conventional practices, rather than the current
position where organic agriculture is ignored, while other agricultural systems are promoted.
THE&ORGANIC&MANAGEMENT&OF&RABBITS:&AN&OPPORTUNITY&FOR&REVERSING&&&FOOD&
INSECURITY&FOR&THE&URBAN&AND&PERI:URBAN&POOR.&THE&KENYAN&CASE&
ANNE JACKLYNNE WANJIKU KUNGU
Ministry of Livestock Development, Department of Livestock Production P.O Box 6962-01000 Thika,
Kenya, E-Mail: ajwkungu@yahoo.com
Abstract
Over half of the World’s population now lives in the urban cities for the first time and more than ever
before they live in the slums. Urban food insecurity and poverty are closely intertwined and are highly
increased by climate change. (World Disaster Report 2010). Kenya is no exceptional.
The paper will give experiences of how small-scale organic rabbit rearing has significantly changed the
lives of the urban and peri-urban poor of Thika District in Central Kenya. The small-scale farmers have
embraced organic management of rabbits as a profitable enterprise in terms of revenue and animal protein
for the household food security and for improved livelihoods reversing their earlier status. The farmers
have come together to form common interest group / association referred to as Rabbit Breeders Association
of Kenya RABAK).
The author will also highlight how the urban and peri-urban poor slum dwellers, are struggling to ensure
the rabbit enterprise is profitable amidst a lot of challenges such as: the climate change, sexism in nutrition,
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BOOK OF ABSTRACTS