Bonn, Germany
September 8, 2005
Recognizing the booming growth and potential of organic
agriculture for contributing to the Millennium Development Goals
in Africa, the International
Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) has
established an Africa Organic Service Centre (AOSC) in Dakar,
Senegal. Mr. Chido Makunike, a recognized leader in the African
environmental and organic initiatives hailing from Zimbabwe, has
been selected as the IFOAM AOSC’s Coordinator.
Known for excellence in journalism by many southern African
readers, Mr. Makunike is strongly supported by the organic
movements in Zambia and Zimbabwe. Rene Fischer, Director of the
Zimbabwe Organic Producers’ and Processors’ Association
emphasized, “Chido’s passion for the organic movement combined
with his highly-tuned skills for critical analysis will serve
the African organic industry well.” The IFOAM AOSC was
established in 2004 and was initially located in Kampala,
Uganda.
In close cooperation with the 66 IFOAM member organizations in
22 African countries and the IFOAM AOSC advisory committee, Mr.
Makunike will initiate strategic efforts to facilitate growth
and development of the African organic sector. Mr. Makunike
notes, “The greatest challenge of the IFOAM AOSC is to connect
and bring together the diversity of the organic agricultural
sector in Africa into a coherent and unified continent-wide
movement.”
The initial scope of the IFOAM AOSC’s activities will focus on
the expansion of communications to IFOAM members and likeminded
organizations, enhancing the visibility of organic agriculture
in Africa and the promotion of continent specific development
initiatives such as the development of regional organic
standards, facilitation of local and export markets, and the
increased recognition of the role organic agriculture plays in
enhancing food security, to name a few. “Significantly, the
IFOAM AOSC has the potential to dramatically elevate the
importance of organic agriculture in Africa. Through networking
with national movements, governments and intergovernmental
agencies, the benefits of organic farming will become
unmistakably clear, and it is my hope that all of the
stakeholders, from farmers to government officials, will
coalesce to support organic agriculture and a sustainable
solution for African people,” asserts El Hadji Hamath Hane,
IFOAM World Board member from Senegal.
Over 75% of Africa’s workforce is employed in agriculture.
Organic farming contributes to the Millennium Development Goals
of improved health and food security, environmental conservation
and economic development. The benefits of organic farming for
Africa are numerous, from increasing yields and conserving water
in semi-arid areas and combating desertification, to debt
reduction of farmers, strengthening of social systems and
maximization of environmental services. Gerald A. Herrmann,
IFOAM Executive Director explains, “The ecological, social and
economic benefits of organic agriculture for the people of
Africa are many. We have invested in the IFOAM AOSC to realize
this potential. We hope that governments and intergovernmental
agencies, particularly the United Nations, will also recognize
organic agriculture’s potential for Africa and make the
necessary investment. Organic agriculture is an agricultural
system that can make positive and permanent changes on a human
scale, utilizing resources effectively.”
More details about the Africa Organic Service Centre can be
found on IFOAM’s website
http://www.ifoam.org/about_ifoam/around_world/africa.html. |