Thiès, Senegal
June 28, 2006
The
International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements
(IFOAM) today presented diverse and effective examples of how
organic agriculture contributes to food security and rural
development in Africa. African press, leaders and
representatives from NGOs, the FAO, the World Bank and national
dignitaries witnessed the potential of organic agriculture.
During a half day event, including a tour of an organic farm,
representatives from Egyptian, Ugandan and Senegalese organic
movements showed how organic agriculture is a means to further
endogenous development for rural communities on a local level.
Dr. Zakaria El Haddad told the success story of
SEKEM, an Egypt-based
initiative that was founded in 1977 by Dr. Ibrahim Abouleish,
and was presented with the Right Livelihood Award in 2003 for
the establishment of "a business model for the 21st century in
which commercial success is integrated with and promotes the
social and cultural development of society through the
'economics of love'". SEKEM has created the blueprint for the
healthy corporation of the 21st century. Taking its name from
the hieroglyphic transcription meaning "vitality of the sun",
SEKEM was the first entity to develop biodynamic farming methods
in Egypt. SEKEM produces a large variety of consumer products of
a high quality, both for local use and for export. SEKEM has an
all-encompassing and holistic vision that aims to create
self-sustaining economic, social and cultural development.
Mr. John Bosco Mugisha presented the
Export Promotion of
Organic Products from Africa (EPOPA) project, which began in
1994 as a program of the Swedish International Development
Cooperation Agency (SIDA). EPOPA aims to give African
smallholder farmers a better livelihood through the development
of local and international organic markets. The increase in
agricultural production benefits rural communities, and thus the
farmers. More than 30000 smallholder farmers have benefited from
a premium price for their organic crop. The agricultural sector,
particularly in Tanzania and Uganda, are constantly exposed to
innovative and environmentally sound organic farming techniques,
leading to abundant local spin off developments.
The host of the event, Mr. Souleymane Bassoum, explained how the
Agrecol project in
Senegal connects consumers and producers around the most basis
need: daily food. By signing an agreement, producers agree to
produce according to the Principles of Organic Agriculture.
Consumers know where they can buy safe and traditional food.
Through local markets and festivals both groups meet each other
to celebrate their common goal - sound production systems for
healthy food. The farm tour, which included an organic lunch
with local, traditional food, provided real life examples of the
project in practice.
IFOAM’s President, Gerald A. Herrmann, appreciated the
presentation of the exemplary practices of Organic Agriculture
in Africa. He noted “Although the examples are all different,
they share the common thread that optimizes the use of local
conditions, while refraining from external inputs and
demonstrating successful community-based development. Because
Organic Agriculture is based upon local knowledge, both uses and
advances diversity and involves little risk, it represents an
ideal means for rural development, and directly contributes to
food security.”
IFOAM organized the event in Thiès in response to the Africa
Fertilizer Summit, which took place in Abuja, Nigeria from June
9 – 13. As opposed to reliance upon external inputs such as
fertilizers and pesticides, the presentations showed that
Organic Agriculture puts farmers at the center of the farming
strategy, restoring the decision-making role to rural
communities, guaranteeing the local control of resources and
encouraging active participation in a value added food chain.
For more information, visit the following websites:
www.sekem.com
www.grolink.se/epopa
www.agrecol-afrique.sn
www.ifoam.org
IFOAM is the international umbrella organization of Organic
Agriculture movements worldwide.
IFOAM’s mission is leading uniting and assisting the organic
movement in its full diversity.
Our goal is the worldwide adoption of ecologically, socially and
economically sound systems taht are based on the Principles of
Organic Agriculture. |