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

2 nd AFRICAN ORGANIC CONFERENCE 2012
May 2-4, 2012 in Lusaka, Zambia
counteract as well as how market transactions are carried out in view of various forms of transaction costs.
An array of marketing channels used by farmers with their different features is presented. More than 50%
of the respondents sold their products through the weekly farmers market. The box scheme is a new
phenomenon but rapidly gaining popularity due to the convenience of making orders through the mobile
phone or internet. Comparison of profitability is also made along the value chains. Greatest potential gains
may be observed in the supermarket channel but these are constrained by lack of reliable contractual
agreements. The study involved a review of other studies on local marketing in Africa, a structured
questionnaire administered to a random sample of organic farmers and semi structured interviews with
managers of organic outlets. Secondary information was also obtained from the national organic
movement.
Key words: Organic, Kenya, value chains, transaction costs, channels.
PHILIPPINES&GMO:FREE&ZONES:&SUCCESSFUL&ROOTS&IN&ORGANIC&POLICY&AND&LAW&
LEE ARUELO
Third World Network
Abstract
The Philippines has been Party to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety since 2006. To date, the Philippines
has no biosafety law, only biosafety regulations, i.e., Department of Agriculture Administrative Order No.
8, Series of 2002; and the National Biosafety Framework (NBF). The Philippines imports GMOs mainly
from the United States which is a non-Party to the Protocol. Since December 2002, there have been 58
GMO applications approved by the Bureau of Plant Industry-Department of Agriculture for release to the
environment. On the other hand, the Philippine Government recognizes the importance of Organic
Agriculture by having an Organic Agriculture Act of 2010; Philippine National Standards of Organic
Agriculture; and Organic Certification Center of the Philippines, Inc.
GMO-Free Zones in the Philippines have been enacted and implemented via GMO Ban Ordinances, which
are the legal bases for such zones at the local level. The Philippine experience on GMO-Free Zones shows
that the GMO Ban Ordinances are most effective when there are concrete links to organic policy and law.
In this regard, NGOs and peoples’ organizations (POs) have advocated first for the passage of an Organic
Agriculture Ordinance before advocating for a GMO Ban Ordinance.
The experience from the Philippines also shows the importance of direct lobbying work and partnership
with local government units. For example, cooperation at the provincial government level resulted in the
enactment and implementation of the GMO Ban Ordinance in the Province of Negros Occidental, and the
enactment of the Organic Agriculture Ordinance and GMO-Free Province Ordinance in Negros Oriental.
Finally, the need for a strong and concerted movement of NGOs and POs with sufficient knowledge and
skills on the issue (e.g. organic agriculture vis-à-vis GMOs) is necessary to ensure success in direct
lobbying work; as well as to ensure effective and efficient implementation of the Organic Agriculture
Ordinance and GMO Ban Ordinance.
ORGANIC&CERTIFICATION&MADE&SIMPLE;&PRACTICAL&EXPERIENCES&&&LESSONS&
LEARNED&IN&TANZANIA&
LEONARD MTAMA, TANCERT
A dream of going organic production in Tanzania goes back to 100 years ago by Benedictine missionaries
when settled in the southwest part of the country. That followed with first two certified project late in 1992.
However, the expansion was limited and too slow due to many factors including that of lack of knowledge
on the principles of production and skills to implement compliance criteria to organic related standards; a
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