Sustaining Livelihoods through Organic Agriculture in Tanzania - UMB

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Chapter One: Introduction In an effort to address the remaining gaps in our knowledge of the livelihood benefits to resource-poor smallholder farmers of organic certification and trade, this study applies action research approaches to the developing organic sector in Tanzania. The overall aim is to assess and enhance organic agriculture’s contribution to sustainable livelihoods and food security amongst Complex, Diverse and Risk-prone (CDR) smallholders in Tanzania. The central research question of this study, ‘In what ways can organic agriculture be developed for the benefit of the smallholder in Tanzania?’ has been addressed through two whole-project case studies and multi-stakeholder involvement, the main methods adopted to analyse the dynamics of organic agriculture at the local and national levels respectively. The main research question can be broken down into three instrumental questions: 1. What is the impact of organic agriculture on smallholder livelihoods? 2. By which pathways does organic agriculture lead to livelihood benefits? 3. Which strategies can be adopted to strengthen these pathways? A three-phase research process, which has moved from case studies, key informant interviews and field visits at the local level, to a national-level stakeholder forum and then to verification and presentation of findings back at the local level, considers the structure and functioning of organic systems at both spatial scales. Fieldwork was carried out in Tanzania over four months and was arranged under the Programme for Agricultural and Natural Resources Transformation for Improved Livelihoods (PANTIL) involving collaboration between the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB) and Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) in Tanzania. In the tradition of action research, the researcher moves beyond reflection into action planning in collaboration with key actors, the outcome of which is the participatory formulation of strategies for individual and joint actions to strengthen the organic sector. 8
Chapter Two: Literature Review The purpose of this chapter is to compile and synthesise the burgeoning literature and research relating to organic agriculture and its role in development in sub-Saharan Africa. 2.1 Definitions of organic agriculture Organic agriculture, also known as ecological or biological agriculture, is a holistic farm management system which aims to optimise the health and productivity of interdependent communities of soil, life, plants, animals and people (FAO/WHO, 2001). Organic systems operate by integrating biological and ecological processes such as nutrient cycling, nitrogen fixation, soil regeneration, allelopathy, competition, predation and parasitism into food production processes. Rather than relying on expensive and non-renewable external inputs, organic agriculture promotes a combination of agronomic practices such as crop rotations, intercropping and the use of locally-available manure together with biological control methods (EPOPA, 2004). Through the mindful management of ecological and biological processes organic farmers can optimise the use of locally or farm-derived renewable resources. Since it builds on and enhances the ecological management skills of farmers, and includes social standards, organic agriculture is 'more than a systems of production that includes or excludes certain inputs' notably agrochemicals and Genetically-Modified Organisms (GMOs) (Edwards, 2005). The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), a worldwide umbrella organisation of organic agriculture movements with at least 760 member organisations and institutions in 105 countries has defined organic agriculture as 'a whole systems approach based upon sustainable ecosystems, safe food, good nutrition, animal welfare and social justice' (IFOAM, 2002). IFOAM has formulated principles for organic agriculture that were revised in 2005 to include health, ecology, fairness and care (see box below), and also basic standards that are applied to both certified and non-certified organic agriculture. IFOAM Revised Principles for Organic Agriculture HEALTH – Organic agriculture should sustain and enhance the health of soil, plant, animal, human and the planet as one and indivisible. Health is understood as the wholeness and integrity of living systems. ECOLOGY – Organic agriculture should be based on living ecological systems and cycles, work with them, emulate them and help sustain them. FAIRNESS – Organic agriculture should build on relationships that ensure fairness with regards to the common environment and life opportunities. CARE – Organic agriculture should be managed in a precautionary and responsible manner to protect the health and well-being of current and future generations and the environment. Source: After IFOAM, 2005a 9
Page 1 and 2: Sustaining Livelihoods through Orga
Page 3 and 4: 6 Assessment of Organic Systems in
Page 5 and 6: TBS Tanzanian Bureau of Standards T
Page 7: Abstract Since certified organic ag
Page 11 and 12: Typology of Organic Systems Source:
Page 13 and 14: healthy life’ (FAO, 1996). This i
Page 15 and 16: Impact of Organic Agriculture on Ca
Page 17 and 18: Furthermore, participatory action r
Page 19 and 20: considerations as well as economic
Page 21 and 22: When sites are selected on the basi
Page 23 and 24: Hawkesbury hierarchy of approaches
Page 25 and 26: Chapter Four: Research Process ‘O
Page 27 and 28: y stakeholders during fieldwork. As
Page 29 and 30: Feedback on the initial research pr
Page 31 and 32: This was drawn as a mind-map and us
Page 33 and 34: Specific activities that were under
Page 35 and 36: preliminary rich picture, these wer
Page 37 and 38: The mission of TOAM is to develop a
Page 39 and 40: Mushrooms Dried mushrooms Songea an
Page 41 and 42: 2. an export standard 3. a standard
Page 43 and 44: Representatives of the national far
Page 45 and 46: companies and ICS field staff. This
Page 47 and 48: Chapter Seven: Summary of Case Stud
Page 49 and 50: sustainable livelihoods for smallho
Page 51 and 52: organic farming allow farmers to ta
Page 53 and 54: constitute only 4 out of the 27 gra
Page 55 and 56: Low level or “pseudo” participa
Page 57 and 58: In contrast to other countries in E
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Tanzania has a distinct advantage o
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newsletters on the organic market a
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The specific interests of different
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Rather than initiating new systems
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Mozambique to provide certification
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Pretty et al. (2003: 13) notes that
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terms of learning so that farmers b
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Ellinor, L. and Gerard, G. (1998) D
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Lerdahl, E. (2001) Staging for crea
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Senge, P. M. (1990) The Fifth Disci
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APPENDIX 1 Interviews Summary Date
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APPENDIX 2 Case Study Protocol Over
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emphasis on “success stories”,
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APPENDIX 3 Report on Case Study Res
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Thus the sustainable livelihood’s
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once per year, provide training, mo
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Summary of Two Organic Initiatives
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Cross-Case Livelihood Analysis The
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Drought Dependence on rainfed agric
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Human Capital Human capital compris
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Social Capital The dominant tribes
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esult in soil acidificiation. Only
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livestock components. The influx of
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Stakeholder Analysis A stakeholder
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farmers and the PCI management, and
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(government directive in response t
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Whilst not exclusively promoting OA
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Conclusion In conclusion we may ask
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In some respects this is the ideal
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APPENDIX 4 January 26, 2006 R.e. In
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APPENDIX 5 Background Information t
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Organic agriculture offers a very r
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Outcome: Participants share immedia
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People go into groups defined by wh
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APPENDIX 8 Organic Stakeholders’
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Introduction After welcoming the pa
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2003 The Tanzanian organic certific
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PRODUCTION POLICY AND LEGISLATION I
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Institutional development Enhance n
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Acronyms ACT Agricultural Council o
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Accommodative knowledge Convergent
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Similarly in the CSR, there were or
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issues in the organic sector. Lack
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commitment to the task of developin
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important not to dwell on negative
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of transport, breakfast and dinners
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Sustaining Livelihoods through Organic Agriculture in Tanzania - UMB

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