Organic Farming

CHEMA has a strong committment to enhancing the market value of agricultural products by showing farmer's how their crops can become Ceritified Organic. We have trainings and register farmers annually, as well as provide external inspections to those farmers which are already certified. In cooperation with Matunda Mema Co. Ltd., we assist farmers export their fruits at fair-market value. By December 2005, a total of 61 farmers in Karagwe district alone were Certified Organic by IMO (Institute für Marktökologie). About 65% of these farmers are women.

Effects At Target-group Level

Experience has shown that adoption rates are higher if women are trained along with men. Therefore, CHEMA likes to train couples. The first day of trainings comprise of a theoretical part and involves the whole group. At the end of the day, we move from theory to application for which the group members provide their plots/farm and the necessary materials or items.  While the training is done at group level, follow-up is carried-out at each individual farm. If necessary, additional advice and even training is provided on-the-spot. Subsequent trainings are carried-out for group leaders only. These trainings take place at CHEMA headquarters and cover topics like leadership skills, record keeping, planning and maintaining enthusiasm of group members. The group leaders are responsible for keeping up with the monitoring forms and supporting CHEMA during follow-up.

According to the Project Officers, the adoption rate of the techniques is very high. The most common and wide spread technique is trench and basket compost making.The positive effects on crop yields and plant development are visible and were proudly demonstrated to the evaluation team. Especially the rise of production on bananas as major food crop in Karagwe is important to the farming households. Women are benefiting most of the LEISA techniques since they are responsible for providing a sufficient and balanced diet to the family. Several LEISA farmers mentioned multiplier effects to neighbouring farmers who wanted to learn from them.

Challenges

Organic farming is very labor intensive and tends to be applicable only as small-scale. For example, Mandela gardens are suitable for farmers having only very small plots/farms - which is not the case for most farmers in the CHEMA area. Also, organic farming techniques cannot be easily disseminated or practiced in a manner that conforms to all rules and regulations across-the-board.   At Matunda Mema Co. Ltd., where we have a partnership to help them set-up  dried-fruit exports, we have sometimes faced issues with solar dryers under humid conditions. There is also a lack of incentive on the part of the group leaders to monitor activities or to transmit technological knowledge to other interested people in the village.

Organic farming demands special efforts from the farmers. Proper mulching, a sanitary environment that is free of plastic waste, batteries or other non-biodegradeable materials (even in the surrounding plots), regular application of techniques to increase soil fertility, integrated pest management and the exclusive use of organic pesticides in the whole farm are just some of the specific conditions to which organic farmers have to adhere. Some farmers may have difficulties to maintain this high standard. In general, the practices of organic farming match well with CHEMA’s objective of sustainable environmental management - but they may only prove to be sustainabile if farmers obtain a secure and real economic benefit compared to standard local markets.

The economic viability of organic farming should be analyzed by examining the benefits acheived by those farmers who have already obtained certification. We need to develop a clear conception and strategy of promoting sustainable agriculture at village level - including defining entry and exit points for support.

Read about our work with Matunda Mema on this Sustainet Report.