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

2 nd AFRICAN ORGANIC CONFERENCE 2012
May 2-4, 2012 in Lusaka, Zambia
cropping systems. The practice of growing velvet bean(mucuna pruriens) in maize is not new a report from
Alabama in 1917 estimates the area under maize/velvet bean intercrop in Alabama state in 1917 was
around 2500000 acres (1million Ha) (S.Templton et al.1917). During this period, most of the maize
production in the USA was carried out using hand labour and animal draft power. Research with organic
maize production on Old Orchard Organic Farm in Kafue, Zambia using velvet bean as a fertilizer
compared with maize fertilized with composted chicken litter.
Yields and costs were compared in side-by-side trials using open pollinated and hybrid maize varieties on a
sandy clay loam. A typical cost and yield analysis for small-scale farmers in the region is included for
comparison sake. Rain fall figures for the 2010/11 rainy season and labour cost/input are indicated.
The comparison was between a hybrid maize variety Seed Co ZS206, a yellow maize variety and the open
pollinated maize variety ‘Gankata’, both classed as late maturing varieties with approximate maturity in
150 days.
ORGANIC&FARMING&AND&SOCIAL&CAPITAL&BUILDING&IN&SMALL&HOLDER&FARMER&
COMMUNITIES&IN&THE&RWENZORI&REGION&
THADDEO TIBASIIMA 1) , JANE NALUNGA 2) , METTE VAARST 3) ,
INGE LIS DISSING 4) AND AAGE DISSING 4)
1) SATNET, Uganda, tadsima2000@yahoo.com;
2) NOGAMU, Uganda, jnalunga@nogamu.org.ug;
3) Organic Denmark, Denmark, Mette.Vaarst@agrsci.dk;
4) Organic Denmark, Denmark, fasavenj11@gmail.com
Abstract
The Rwenzori region is a part of Uganda which is endowed with a bio-diverse environment in which
farmers depend mostly on natural resources and sustain their agricultural activities. Small holder farmers in
this region are locked in a vicious cycle of poverty, partly due to limited capacity to appropriately utilize
the available natural resources. In addition, the culture of interacting and sharing knowledge among small
holder farmers has been reported from farmer communities as dying out.
To meet the multiple challenges in farmer communities, we found it inevitable to introduce a group focused
and practically oriented approach, which could promote social relations amongst farmers. Social relations
include a combination of social trust, exchange of ideas, norms, attitudes, beliefs, values, common learning
and culture that people draw upon to solve common problems.
In 2009 SATNET, NOGAMU and Organic Denmark (OD) piloted a Farmer Family Learning Group
approach to promote organic farming for family food security, improved incomes and advocacy. We were
inspired by the popular Farmer Field School approach, although including other elements.
Each of the FFLG was allocated a Community Process Facilitator. These were taken through a course
which basically transformed them from being ‘trainers’ to becoming ‘facilitators’ for organic farmer
groups. To date, more than 60 functional FFLG have been established, and each of them consists typically
of 15-30 households (whole families), who work together on each other’s farm to solve their own problems
and attain a common goal, and to discuss relevant and important issues in their farms and community. They
meet at the host’s farm, analyse the situation together, and design and implement recommendations which
will improve the farm production through building resilience to shocks. The participants evaluated which
change in their families were the most significant. In a process of collecting all the results from all groups,
this ‘Most Significant Change’ achieved was increased interaction in communities as the epicenter to
sharing knowledge, improving utilization of local resources, accessing markets, reducing family conflicts,
and increasingly take control over resources by women. Community services were improved through the
FFLGs’ interventions in the local community.
BOOK OF ABSTRACTS 65