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 organic inputs etc. Results from 30 farmers interviewed in Chongwe district and the literature review have shown that organic farming as a system is as much a political issue as it is an economic one. Some of the internal factors reported among the 30 farmers, as impeding adoption include difficulties with pest management, labour intensity resulting in labour constraints, availability of alternative farming systems, and benefits accruing only in the long term. Factors such as number of active household members, gender and level of education did not show any significant impact on the adoption of organic farming systems. Key external factors were government policy i.e. promotion of inorganic fertilizers, hybrid seed and no policy and support to organic agriculture, global economic trends and uncertain market condition in some cases leading to disadoption resulting in reduced effect on the growth of the organic industry in Chongwe district. THE&CASE&OF&MR&CHARLES&ZULU:AN&INTEGRATED&ORGANIC&FARM.& CHARLES ZULU, DR HENRIETTA KALINDA, ROBSON NYIRENDA, AND EDWIN MATAMBO KASISI AGRICULTURAL TRAINING CENTRE, P. O Box 30652, Lusaka Email: KATC@iconnect.zm, robbienyirenda@gmail.com Abstract The integration of livestock and crops in an organic farm, as in the case of Mr Charles Zulu of Kasenga B settlement scheme which is about 30km from Chongwe town has shown positive results, which include positive outcome for the use of both indigenous and scientific knowledge in dealing with challenges. The concept of farmers as experimenters and initiators of their own destinies can clearly be attested through various principles and practices that Mr Charles Zulu is using. Mr Zulu uses simple and affordable methods for managing his enterprises. Innovations include improved housing for his livestock mainly birds (guinea fowls, chickens, turkeys, quails) and goats, water harvesting and management systems for his garden. The management system for his birds such as chickens, guinea fowl and turkeys is based on both indigenous and scientific knowledge; the incubation of guinea fowl eggs is done by chickens and is able to achieve a hatch rate of 80 %. The farmer grows garden crops such turmeric, garlic, onion, tomatoes, maize and pumpkins using organic methods. The seed used plays an important role in the control of diseases and pest; other practices which he follows include crop rotation, companion planting and use of botanical pesticides. Marketing remains one of the main challenges faced by farmers; however Mr Zulu has innovative ways of getting around this challenge such as value addition i.e. Smoking chickens for which there is a growing market, forward contracts for vegetables and the open market as a fallback. MARKETING&STRATEGIES&AND&FINANCING&MECHANISMS&ALONG&ORGANIC&SUPPLY& CHAINS?&ARE&THEY&DIFFERENT&FROM&CONVENTIONAL?& PILAR SANTACOLOMA AND WILLIAM EDWARDSON FAO, Italy, pilar.santacoloma@fao.org Abstract Fostering organic supply chains is becoming of increasing interest to developing countries, since the demand for organic products is growing, providing new market opportunities and premium prices for producers who comply with organic certification standards. This paper focuses on case studies of organic rice in Thailand and India, coffee and fruits from African countries and horticulture products in Hungary and Brazil. It summarizes the findings related to marketing, financing and value-added components of these organic ventures and then provides conclusions and recommendations for policy makers, private sector and support organizations in the future development of organic product supply chains in developing countries. BOOK OF ABSTRACTS 63
2 nd AFRICAN ORGANIC CONFERENCE 2012 May 2-4, 2012 in Lusaka, Zambia Key words: marketing strategies, financing mechanisms, organic supply chains, value-adding opportunities, and farmers’ income-generation ORGANIC&LIVESTOCK&FARMING:&CASE&OF&AFRICAN&PASTAROLISTS& Abstract The future of Africa lies in integrating economic, social equity and environment concerns .Thirty years ago everyone believed that condition and productivity of African rangelands was determined by stocking rates. This knowledge derived from research and informed many government policies towards rangeland management and African pastoralists due to keeping large livestock numbers were seen as the cause of rangeland degradation. However this knowledge has been revisited and revealed that African rangelands are not driven by stocking rates alone but a complex natural relationship between the people, their livelihoods and the environment. These studies have further shown that degradation of Africa rangelands is not mostly due to overstocking but to natural climatic cycles and most importantly to traditional rangeland management by pastoralists when it was able conserve biodiversity and allow rangelands to recover. In these practices livestock played the key role as a tool by grazing and trampling which ensures nutrient cycling and preparing the soil surface for water penetration and improving the soil water holding capacity. Soil biological activity is enhanced which is the key principle of organic agriculture. Therefore African pastoralists are most experienced organic producers in quality and practice. Unfortunately the marketing of livestock products from African pastoralist as certified organic produce is most constrained by requirements of certified slaughter and processing facilities, difficulties in supplying consistent quality and grades, interruption to market supply due to recurring droughts and most importantly the marginalization of products produced by the poor. Keekonyokie masai abattoir in kiserian Kenya is community owned meat enterprise that is marketing conservation organic beef products. In Addition the abattoir has biogas plant that generates electricity to operate its meat cold rooms and sell organic fertilizer to local farmers demonstrating in practice the full opportunity and challenges of organic livestock production by poor pastoralists This paper gives critical review of the of our pastoralists organic livestock production its challenges and how masai pastoralists in Kenya have formed their own meat processing enterprises to overcome the challenges of marketing their produce as high quality organic meat through innovation and lobbying for awareness among consumers based on experiences of keekonyokie meat enterprise in Kenya Keywords: Pastoralists, grazing practices, rangeland degradation, livestock, nutrient cycles, organic meat products, biogas and market challenges GROWING&ORGANIC&MAIZE&IN&ZAMBIA& Abstract Fertilizer prices have shown a general increase over the past few years due to increased energy cost and futures markets in mined nutrient sources. Farmers all over the world are looking for alternatives in order to reduce costs and increase profits. Organic systems offer potential ‘cheap fertilizer’ through efficient nutrient cycling, but often organic farmer find their crop yields lower than those they obtain using synthetic fertilizer. The challenge for all of us is to find efficient ways to improve our yield potential without relying on expensive inputs, in order to feed and ever increasing population. This paper highlights some interesting new and old innovations which may be able to improve yield and profit and at the same time improve and re-generate our soils so we can feed more people now and in the future. Green manure/cover crop (gm/cc) systems. A new look at cover crops based on farm research in Kafue over the last 10 years and leading edge research from South America reveals some evidence of how to capture, store and release nutrients in organic 64 BOOK OF ABSTRACTS
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