(TIMES) Organic farming: An emerging industry in Zambia
Organic farming: An emerging industry in ZambiaBy Annie Sampa
WITH land in increasingly short supply due to poor soil, organic agriculture offers good prospects for intensifying production and boosting farmer’s income. It is accepted in Zambia today that soil fertility and crop yields are declining in the areas of the country where farming is concentrated, although the speed at which this is taking place is not always fully recognised.
In order to increase yields and profitability, as well as to save and regenerate soils, the farming sector from small-scale holders to commercial farmers need to find ways of reducing costs of their inputs, increase the value of their outputs and to practice sustainable methods of production. And organic agriculture offers a viable opportunity to address these issues.
Organic farming has become one of the fastest growing segments in the world one of which is the US agriculture. US producers are turning to certified organic farming system as a potential way to lower input costs, decrease reliance on non-renewable resources, capture high-value markets and premium prices and boost farm income.
One of the reasons why producers are pursuing this technology system is because it relies on ecologically based practices such as cultural and biological pest management and virtually excludes the use of synthetic chemicals in crop production, and prohibits the use of antibiotics and hormones in livestock production.
Many producers, manufacturers, distributors and retailers specialise in growing, processing and marketing an ever widening array of organic food and fiber products.
One organic specialist Morgan Reggs based in the US says organic product is not simply the avoidance of conventional chemical inputs nor is it the substitution of natural inputs for synthetic ones.
Organic farmers apply techniques used thousands of years ago such as crop rotation and the use of compost animal manure and green manure in ways that are economically sustainable in today’s world.
After working in this field for 10 years now, he feels in organic production, overall system health is emphasised and the interaction of management practices is the primary concern adding that the producers only implement a wide range of strategies to develop and maintain biological diversity and replenish soil fertility.
Subsequently, Reggs states that the key characteristics of organic farming is to produce food of high nutritional quality in sufficient quantity, to maintain and increase lon g term fertility of soils, and to give livestock all life conditions which allow them to perform the basic aspects of their intimate behavior.
Accordingly, consumers are demanding organic foods because in organic farming; weeds, diseases and pest control rely primarily on crop rotations, natural predators, organic manuring, resistant and limited thermal, biological and chemical intervention that put human health at risk.
Therefore, careful attention to the impact of the farming system on the wider environment and the conservation of wildlife and natural habitats are preserved.
For instance, in June, the European Union agriculture ministers reached political agreement on a new regulation on organic production and labeling which will be simpler for both farmers and consumers.
The new rules set out a complete set of objectives, principles and basic rules for organic production including a new permanent import regime and more consistent control regime.
The use of the EU organic logo will be mandatory but it can be accompanied by national or private logos. The place where the products were farmed has to be also indicated to inform consumers and food will only be able to carry an organic logo if at least 95 per cent of the ingredients are organic.
This is so because ‘organic’ is the fastest growing food and beverage market in the West. All the major supermarkets now stock processed and packaged organic goods as well as fresh produce and 63 per cent of shoppers interviewed in a recent pole, had at some time purchased organic products and 32 per cent on a regular basis.
Germany has the largest market of organic products, closely followed by Switzerland , Denmark and the Netherlands .
Despite this, consumption of organic products, the markets in Europe remain greatly under supplied.
The organic market is now flourishing worldwide. This market is not only centered in the West, in Japan 820 retail outlets were recorded as selling organic food in Tokyo in 1997 (International Agricultural Development Journal) which an estimated 4 million people eating organic food.
Some schools and restaurants have resorted to organic food and at least one brewery claims to use only organic rice in its premium brands.
According to United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation, EU organic farming is set to grow rapidly across Europe in the coming years amid demand for food produced with a minimum of pesticides and synthetic fertilisers.
Additionally, retail sales from organic farming in the EU have climbed from US$4.7 billion in 1997 to approximately $23 to 28 billion in 2005; this indicates it will climb increasingly in few years to come if growth rates and profitability remains at the current levels.
At an overall persistent growth rate in the EU of around 25 per cent per year for the past 10 years, organic agriculture is one of the fastest growing sectors of agricultural production, more so, there is a growing demand for organic foods driven primarily by consumer’s perceptions of the quality and safety of these foods.
A report released by the Organic Centre two years ago concludes that organic farming practices can also lessen the risk of dangerous mycotoxin contamination in foods, especially grain based products.
Mycotoxin that is secondary metabolites produced by fungi in response to certain environment conditions are most commonly found in grains and grain based products such as whole wheat breads as well as in nuts, spices, milk and apple juice. When present in food supply can pose mild to severe human health risk.
In Zambia, an organisation calling itself Organic Producers and Processors Associations of Zambia (OPPAZ) is promoting and expanding the opportunities of organic agricultural.
OPPAZ has developed network of organic buyers and traders and as a priority activity, offers the facility of a coordinated marketing role for producers and processors within Zambia to stimulate and support the increase in the volume of export products.
Most members of the association are already producer-exporter and are mainly engaged in the production and export of fresh produce to supermarkets in the UK and honey, wax and mushroom to Europe .
It is anticipated that the expansion of organic pulses, seed products and seed oils, honey, coffee, herb and spice production and value added items will develop in response to the growing demand from international organic buyers.
In undertaking the practice of organic agriculture, farmer-producers will benefit if only they improve the quality and fertility of their land holding and, when entering the certified organic market place, they should gain greater profit from their enterprises.
This emerging organic industry is in its infancy in Zambia . In order for Zambia to gain from these opportunities and to establish her name on the global market as a supplier of organic produce, organic farming requires the dynamic input and commitment of the farming sector, trade organisations, donor communities and the Government. Zambia will then realise the full potential of this emerging agro-business-PALISAH.
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posted by MrK @ 11:39 PM
2 Comments:
i am agree with develop organic farming on developing countries.
Hi Mahdi Ebrahimi,
Even more, most poor farmers already use organic matters because they can't afford differently.
It are the commercial farmers, especially the ones growing cotton, who are using all kinds of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, etc.
It would be a real revolution if new commercial farms would start using organic methods - using predatory insects to keep pests under control; using teas and other organic fertilizer; natural methods of improving the soil.
It would be great if these huge estates were broken up into 100 hectare farms, that could pay far more attention to the soil, and the quality of the food they produce.
Cheers
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