African governments should channel greater investments to organic farming that promise food security and sustainable revenue for smallholders, campaigners said on Wednesday.
Michael Onyeka, the Executive Director of Greenpeace Africa told reporters in Nairobi that farming systems that are ecologically sensitive have the potential to feed a continent experiencing population boom.
“The chemical intensive farming practices touted as the surest path to food security are harmful to the environment and human health. Ecological farming is good for the planet and has superior economic benefits for farmers,” said Onyeka.
Green Peace Africa recently conducted a survey in Malawi and Kenya that revealed organic farming unleashed a financial boom to smallholders.
Onyeka stressed that policy reforms and financial incentives were crucial to scale up organic farming in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Green Peace Africa has partnered with conservation groups to lobby governments across East Africa to enact policies that encourage ecological farming.
Onyeka noted that scientific evidence has revealed the transformative power of organic farming at small holder level.
“Ecological farming can withstand environmental shocks, pests and diseases. It can be practiced on a large scale to feed local populations and export the surplus,” Onyeka said.
Mechanized agriculture poses a threat to Africa’s ecosystems and livelihood of rural communities.
Glen Tyler, the agriculture campaigner at Green peace Africa, said that organic farming is not only cost effective but promotes soil fertility and water retention.
“Small holders only needs appropriate technologies to practice organic farming. Agro forestry and crop rotation has revolutionized farming in Kenya and Malawi,” Tyler told reporters.
Kenyan green groups have intensified campaigns to promote organic farming and link small holders to lucrative markets overseas.
Wanjiru Kamau, a Programs Officer at Kenya Organic Agriculture Network, said demand for organically grown food has spiked in the country.
“Organic produce has a niche market thanks to awareness on their health benefits among Kenyans,” said Kamau. Enditem
Source: Xinhua
