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

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2 nd AFRICAN ORGANIC CONFERENCE 2012 May 2-4, 2012 in Lusaka, Zambia highly vulnerable to climate change and land degradation. Some recent activities implemented in the framework of the Organic for Africa! include: • The International Conference 'Ecological Organic Agriculture: The Alternative for Africa' held at the UNEP Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, in November 2011. • The IFOAM advocacy activities at the United Nations Climate Change conference in Durban in December 2011. • High profile advocacy event at the BioFach Congress on ‘Addressing Hunger – What Can We Do?’ featuring the World Food Program, UNCCD and leading development, training and extension organizations from the organic movement in February 2012 The presentation will introduce IFOAM’s Organic for Africa! Initiative, present its key activities and illustrate the comprehensive range strategic advocacy activities aimed at elevating organic agriculture as a key tool in the transition of agriculture in Africa. NETWORK&ORGANIZATION&OF&ORGANIC&VALUE&CHAINS&IN&KENYA’S&TOURISM& INDUSTRY& MR. JOSPHAT NJENGA, PROF. EDWARD G. KARURI, DR. JONATHAN NZUMA, DR. JOHN WANGOH AND PROF. RAPHAEL WAHOME Network organization/ governance constitute a distinct form of coordination of economic activities thereby improving efficiency and reduction in agency problems for organizations. Network organization along the value chain has an important role in agribusiness and marketing. There is inadequate data about the networks in the organic value- chains in Kenya since no empirical study had been conducted. The present study was designed to analyze the networks for organic foods value- chains for the tourist sector. From the analysis, the weak links in the networks will be identified and appropriate measures taken to strengthened since the strength of the network depends on the weakest link. This study was conducted using a survey. Snowball sampling design was used and the data collected using semi structured questionnaires during the interviews. The data was analysed using Ucinet Version 6. From the analysis, linkages amongst training and sector support groups were found to be weak links with centrality degrees of 38.462. Furthermore, their frequencies of interactions are minimal hence inefficiencies in the sector. Retailers have the highest centrality degree of 92.308, followed by the Kenya Organic Agriculture Network with 76.923. The organic value chain network centralization is 47.337%. These results indicate that that the sector is not adequately networked. The study recommended that trade and sector support groups be strengthened since this was a notable weakness in the chain. Retailers have high degree of centrality; they have adequate knowledge of all the opportunities and operations in the sector. They could therefore be used to strenghten the network and rules designed to govern them to prevent exploitation of farmers by paying them very little. Keywords: Organic agriculture, Network, Value chain EVALUATION&OF&THE&TRACEABILITY&SYSTEMS&IN&THE&ORGANIC&VALUE:&CHAINS&IN& KENYA& MR. JOSPHAT NJENGA, PROF. EDWARD G. KARURI, DR. JONATHAN NZUMA, DR. JOHN WANGOH AND PROF. RAPHAEL WAHOME One of the reasons for imperfections in organic produce markets is presence of information asymmetry. Such attributes can result in market failure due to a lack of credible transfer of information along the value chain. Analysis of food supply chain traceability is through the analyses of the “track” and “trace” systems. Effective information exchange and traceability is the key to improving value chain performance and competitiveness in today’s complex and rapidly changing environment. The present study was conducted to assess the traceability systems along organic foods value- chains. The study was conducted using a survey BOOK OF ABSTRACTS 53
2 nd AFRICAN ORGANIC CONFERENCE 2012 May 2-4, 2012 in Lusaka, Zambia of the major stakeholders along the organic value chain. Since the stakeholders were few in number, a census of all stakeholders was done. Data collection was through interview using semi- structured questionnaires. The data was analysed using SPSS version 17. Of the farmers interviewed, 87% could neither track nor trace their operations and didn’t keep records mainly because they have inadequate knowledge. Farmer groups assist farmers in tracing and tracking their operations and relay on physical monitoring to enhance compliance. All farmers did not conduct internal audits and have insufficient trace and track review mechanism. Middlemen (66.7% of the surveyed middlemen) and organic food processors (100% of the surveyed processors) have well established track and trace system to sustain trade. They have adequate documentation (60%), monitoring (100%), internal audits (42%) and review systems (100%). The organic produce market surveyed has trace and tracking system which is not adequately documented since consumers do not demand tracing and tracking. The study recommend that all stakeholders along the organic value- chains be trained on how to implement and maintaing trace and track systems. All the gaps in the current track and trace system should be identified and SWOT analysis conducted to convert weaknesses into strengths and threats into opportunities. Keywords: Organic agriculture, traceability systems, trace, track IMPROVING&SOIL&HEALTH&AND&FERTILITY&IN&AFRICA&USING&FOREST/MOUNTAIN& MICROORGANISMS&TECHNOLOGY& ANDREW JOSEPH, KALEMA, Agro Eco Louisbolk Institute, Eastern Africa, Uganda j.kalema@louisbolk.org Abstract The technology provides cheap and quick althernative to smallscale farmers in Africa to restore back soil health/life and fertility on their farms by converting organic natural resources in their farming environment, using Forest/Mountain Microorganisms (MM), into quality organic solid and liquid fertilizers. By applying these organic fertilizers rich in soil life and nutrients to farming soils, crop production and product quality of organic farmers in Africa are expected to increase and this will attract better markets and hence improve their household incomes. A pilot project was set up in 2010, supported by Progreso Program to validate the technology in Uganda among organised producers engaged in coffee and cocoa production. Inspite of the fact that rebuilding soil health and fertility is a gradual process, there is an increasing adoptation of the MM technology among small-scale farmers and this trend is predicted to grow. Posters and farmer friendly booklets on the technology were developed to facilitate learning and dissemination of the technique. Key words: Forest/Mountain Microorganisms, Soil health, Soil fertility, Organic fertilizers. GOVERNANCE&OF&&DOMESTIC&MARKETS&FOR&ORGANIC&PRODUCTS&IN&KENYA& MURIMI M. L., NZUMA M.J. AND WAHOME R.G. University of Nairobi, Kenya, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, Box 29053 Email: leah.murimi@yahoo.com Abstract This paper describes from a transaction costs perspective the structure of the Kenyan domestic organic market. Vegetable, Dairy and Egg Value chains have been identified as the most prevalent in the market and accordingly selected for analysis. Emphasis is placed on how agents along the value chains act or 54 BOOK OF ABSTRACTS
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