DOCSLIB.ORG

Organic Agriculture and Food Security in Africa

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Organic Agriculture and Food Security in Africa i United Nations Conference on Trade and Development United Nations Environment Programme UNEP-UNCTAD Capacity-building Task Force on Trade, Environment and Development Organic Agriculture and Food Security in Africa United Nations New York and Geneva, 2008 ii Note 6\PEROVRI8QLWHG1DWLRQVGRFXPHQWVDUHFRPSRVHGRIFDSLWDOOHWWHUVFRPELQHGZLWK¿JXUHV 0HQWLRQRIVXFKDV\PEROLQGLFDWHVDUHIHUHQFHWRD8QLWHG1DWLRQVGRFXPHQW The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning WKHGHOLPLWDWLRQRILWVIURQWLHUVRUERXQGDULHV 7KHYLHZVH[SUHVVHGLQWKLVYROXPHDUHODUJHO\WKRVHRIWKHDXWKRUVDQGGRQRWQHFHVVDULO\UHÀHFW WKHYLHZVRIWKH81&7$'DQG81(3VHFUHWDULDWV Material in this publication may be freely quoted or reprinted, but acknowledgement is requested, WRJHWKHU ZLWK D UHIHUHQFH WR WKH GRFXPHQW QXPEHU$ FRS\ RI WKH SXEOLFDWLRQ FRQWDLQLQJ WKH quotation or reprint should be sent to the UNCTAD secretariat (c/o Administrative Secretary, Division on International Trade in Goods and Services, and Commodities, Palais des Nations, *HQHYD6ZLW]HUODQG ,QIRUPDWLRQRQ&%7)DFWLYLWLHVLVDYDLODEOHRQWKH&%7)ZHEVLWHKWSZZZXQHSXQFWDGRUJ FEWI UNCTAD/DITC/TED/2007/15 UNITED NATIONS PUBLICATION Copyright © United Nations, 2008 All rights reserved iii Foreword )RRGVHFXULW\LVDQLVVXHRIJUHDWDQGJURZLQJFRQFHUQLQPDQ\FRXQWULHVSDUWLFXODUO\LQ$IULFD Despite global pledges, the recent report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food highlighted that the number of people suffering from hunger has increased every year VLQFH Feeding over 6 billion people – and over 9 billion by 2050 – will require a wide range of creative, sustainable agricultural systems which not only provide food, but also factor in the economic value RIQDWXUHEDVHGVHUYLFHVVXFKDVIRUHVWVZHWODQGVDQGVRLORUJDQLVPVWKDWXQGHUSLQDJULFXOWXUH 6LPSO\DSSO\LQJWKH³LQGXVWULDO´DJULFXOWXUDOPRGHOVRIWKHWZHQWLHWKFHQWXU\LQWRWKHWZHQW\¿UVW DVDVLQJOHJOREDOVROXWLRQZLOOQRWVHUYHXVZHOO The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the United Nations (QYLURQPHQW3URJUDPPH 81(3 WKURXJKWKHLUMRLQW&DSDFLW\%XLOGLQJ7DVN)RUFHRQ7UDGH Environment and Development (CBTF), take food security very seriously and have joined forces WRFRQWULEXWHWRWKHVHDUFKIRUVXVWDLQDEOHVROXWLRQV This study examines the relationship between organic agriculture and food security in Africa, particularly East Africa, which is where the CBTF has been implementing a project on organic DJULFXOWXUHVLQFH2UJDQLFDJULFXOWXUHLVDKROLVWLFSURGXFWLRQV\VWHPEDVHGRQDFWLYHDJUR HFRV\VWHPPDQDJHPHQWUDWKHUWKDQRQH[WHUQDOLQSXWVDQGLWXWLOL]HVERWKWUDGLWLRQDODQGVFLHQWL¿F NQRZOHGJH The evidence presented in this study supports the argument that organic agriculture can be more conducive to food security in Africa than most conventional production systems, and that it is PRUHOLNHO\WREHVXVWDLQDEOHLQWKHORQJWHUP 7KLVLVLQOLQHZLWKWKH¿QGLQJVRIWKH)RRGDQG$JULFXOWXUDO2UJDQL]DWLRQRIWKH8QLWHG1DWLRQV )$2 ,QWHUQDWLRQDO&RQIHUHQFHRQ2UJDQLF$JULFXOWXUHDQG)RRG6HFXULW\KHOGLQ0D\ Therefore, we encourage policymakers and development cooperation partners in Africa and DURXQGWKHZRUOGWRWDNHDQHZORRNDWWKLVSURPLVLQJSURGXFWLRQV\VWHPZLWKIUHVKH\HV,WRIIHUV not only improved food security, but also an array of other economic, environmental, health and VRFLDOEHQH¿WV Supachai Panitchpakdi Achim Steiner 6HFUHWDU\*HQHUDORI81&7$' ([HFXWLYH'LUHFWRURI81(3 iv Acknowledgements This study was prepared by Rachel Hine and Jules Pretty, University of Essex and Sophia Twarog 81&7$' 7KHDXWKRUVFDQEHFRQWDFWHGDWWKH&HQWUHIRU(QYLURQPHQWDQG6RFLHW\8QLYHUVLW\ RI(VVH[&ROFKHVWHU(VVH[&2648QLWHG.LQJGRPHPDLOUHKLQH#HVVH[DFXNRUDWWKH Trade and Sustainable Development Section, Division on International Trade, UNCTAD, Palais GHV1DWLRQV*HQHYD6ZLW]HUODQGHPDLOVRSKLDWZDURJ#XQFWDGRUJ Sophia Twarog (UNCTAD) and Asad Naqvi (UNEP/CBTF) oversaw the publication process under WKHRYHUDOOVXSHUYLVLRQRI8OULFK+RIIPDQQ 81&7$' DQG+XVVHLQ$ED]D 81(3 3UDYHHQ Bhalla (consultant to UNCTAD), Paul Stephenson (UNCTAD), Michael Gibson (UNCTAD) and $QQD*ULJJV IRUPHUO\ZLWK81&7$' SURYLGHGDVVLVWDQFHRQODQJXDJHHGLWLQJLVVXHV.DULP Ouahidi (UNEP), Desirée Leon (UNEP) and Rahila Mughal (UNEP) provided administrative VXSSRUW6RSKLD&RPEHWWH 81&7$' GHVLJQHGWKHFRYHU5DIH'HQW 81&7$' IRUPDWWHGWKH PDQXVFULSW The authors are grateful to the following for contributing valuable information and insights to the study: • Peter Murage, Mount Kenya Organic Farm (MOOF), Kenya; • J Ngugi Mutura, Sustainable Agriculture Community Development Programme (SACDEP), Kenya; • Charles Wasonga, Environmental Action Team (EAT), Kenya; • Donati Alex Senzia, Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM), United Republic of Tanzania; • -RKQ:1MRURJH.HQ\D,QVWLWXWHRI2UJDQLF)DUPLQJ .,2) .HQ\D • Zia R Khan, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Kenya; • Moses Muwanga, National Organic Agricultural Movement of Uganda (NOGAMU), Uganda; • Jordan Gama, Tanzania Organic Agriculture Movement (TOAM), United Republic of Tanzania; • Eustace Kiarii, Kenya Organic Agriculture Network (KOAN), Kenya; • 3HWUD%DNHZHOO6WRQH1RUZHJLDQ8QLYHUVLW\RI/LIH6FLHQFH1RUZD\ • Ulrich Hoffmann, UNCTAD; • Fulai Sheng, UNEP; • Benjamin Simmons, UNEP; • Gunnar Rundgren, Grolink, Sweden; • Hervé Bouagnimbeck, International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM); and • Participants in the CBTF East African Organic Agriculture Initiative who provided feedback on the terms of reference and drafts of this paper when they were presented DW &%7) PHHWLQJV 3DUWLFXODU WKDQNV JR WR PHPEHUV RI WKH &%7) SURMHFW¶V 5HJLRQDO Steering Committee: From Kenya: Naftali Ndugire, National Environment Management $XWKRULW\(XVWDFH.LDULL.2$1DQG&HFLOLD.LPHPLD%ULGJH$IULFD)URPWKH8QLWHG Republic of Tanzania: Geoffrey Kirenga and Adah Mwasha, Ministry of Agriculture, Food 6HFXULW\DQG&RRSHUDWLYHV-RUGDQ*DPD72$0DQG/R\FH/HPD(QYLURFDUH)URP Uganda: Florence Kata, Ben Naturinda and Bosco Okello, Ugandan Export Promotion Board; Moses Muwanga, NOGAMU; and Godber Tumushabe, Advocates Coalition on 'HYHORSPHQWDQGWKH(QYLURQPHQW $&2'( The CBTF East African Organic Agriculture Initiative activities were made possible through WKHJHQHURXV¿QDQFLDOVXSSRUWRIWKH(XURSHDQ8QLRQWKH6ZHGLVK,QWHUQDWLRQDO'HYHORSPHQW &RRSHUDWLRQ$JHQF\ 6LGD DQGWKH*RYHUQPHQWRI1RUZD\ v Contents Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................... iv Acronyms .............................................................................................................................................. vi Executive summary.............................................................................................................................. vii Section 1. Overview................................................................................................................... 1 ,QWURGXFWLRQ 1 $JULFXOWXUDOSURGXFWLRQDQGIRRGVHFXULW\LQ$IULFD 1 7KHIRRGVHFXULW\FKDOOHQJH 2 &DXVHVRIIRRGLQVHFXULW\ 3 )RRGVHFXULW\FKDOOHQJHVIRUDJULFXOWXUHLQ$IULFD 5 6XVWDLQDELOLW\LQDJULFXOWXUH 6 2UJDQLFDJULFXOWXUH 6 7KHH[WHQWRIRUJDQLFDJULFXOWXUHLQ$IULFDSDUWLFXODUO\(DVW$IULFD 8 Section 2. Evidence from Africa............................................................................................. 11 ,QFUHDVLQJIRRGVHFXULW\ZLWKRUJDQLFDJULFXOWXUH 11 2.1.1 Improvements inavailability of food..........................................................................11 2.1.2 Improvements to natural capital ............................................................................... 12 2.1.3 Improvements to social capital.................................................................................. 13 2.1.4 Improvements to human capital ................................................................................ 13 2.1.5 Improvements to physical capital.............................................................................. 14 ,PSURYHPHQWVWR¿QDQFLDOFDSLWDO ............................................................................. 14 2.1.7 Improvements to external factors ............................................................................. 15 2.1.8 Summary.................................................................................................................... 15 (YLGHQFHRQRUJDQLFDJULFXOWXUHDQGIRRGDYDLODELOLW\LQ$IULFD 16 7\SRORJ\RIPHFKDQLVPVE\ZKLFKRUJDQLFDJULFXOWXUHLPSURYHVQDWXUDO VRFLDOKXPDQSK\VLFDODQG¿QDQFLDOFDSLWDO 16 1DUUDWLYHFDVHVWXGLHVIURP(DVW$IULFD 19 2.4.1 The Manor House Agricultural Centre, Kitale, Kenya ............................................. 19 2.4.2 Organic cotton, GTZ, United Republic of Tanzania.................................................. 19 2.4.3 SACDEP, Thika, Kenya ............................................................................................. 20 &HUWL¿HGRUJDQLFFRWWRQLQ8JDQGD........................................................................... 21 2.4.5 C-MAD programme, Kenya....................................................................................... 22 2.4.6 Small-scale aquaculture inMalawi........................................................................... 22 2.4.7 ICIPE YXWXVXNXPX (push-pull) pest management, Kenya....................................... 23 2.4.8 Ethiopia: Cheha integratedrural development project ............................................ 24 2.4.9 MEFE project,
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Animal Nutrition
    GCSE Agriculture and Land Use Animal Nutrition Food production and Processing For first teaching from September 2013 For first award in Summer 2015 Food production and Processing Key Terms Learning Outcomes Intensive farming Extensive farming • Explain the differences between intensive and Stocking rates extensive farming. Organic methods • Assess the advantages and disadvantages of intensive and extensive farming systems, Information including organic methods The terms intensive and extensive farming refer to the systems by which animals and crops are grown and Monogastric Digestive Tract prepared for sale. Intensive farming is often called ‘factory farming’. Intensive methods are used to maximise yields and production of beef, dairy produce, poultry and cereals. Animals are kept in specialised buildings and can remain indoors for their entire lifetime. This permits precise control of their diet, breeding , behaviour and disease management. Examples of such systems include ‘barley beef’ cattle units, ‘battery’ cage egg production, farrowing crates in sow breeding units, hydroponic tomato production in controlled atmosphere greenhouses. The animals and crops are often iStockphoto / Thinkstock.com fertilised, fed, watered, cleaned and disease controlled by Extensive beef cattle system based on pasture automatic and semi automatic systems such as liquid feed lines, programmed meal hoppers, milk bacterial count, ad lib water drinkers and irrigation/misting units. iStockphoto / Thinkstock.com Extensive farming systems are typically managed outdoors, for example with free-range egg production. Animals are free to graze outdoors and are able to move around at will. Extensive systems often occur in upland farms with much lower farm stocking rates per hectare. Sheep and beef farms will have the animals grazing outdoors on pasture and only brought indoors and fed meals during lambing season and calving season or during the part of winter when outdoor conditions are too harsh.
    [Show full text]
  • Organic Agriculture As an Opportunity for Sustainable Agricultural Development
    Research to Practice Policy Briefs Policy Brief No. 13 Organic Agriculture as an Opportunity for Sustainable Agricultural Development Verena Seufert [email protected] These papers are part of the research project, Research to Practice – Strengthening Contributions to Evidence-based Policymaking, generously funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). Policy Brief - Verena Seufert 1 Executive summary We need drastic changes in the global food system in order to achieve a more sustainable agriculture that feeds people adequately, contributes to rural development and provides livelihoods to farmers without destroying the natural resource basis. Organic agriculture has been proposed as an important means for achieving these goals. Organic agriculture currently covers only a small area in developing countries but its extent is continuously growing as demand for organic products is increasing. Should organic agriculture thus become a priority in development policy and be put on the agenda of international assistance as a means of achieving sustainable agricultural development? Can organic agriculture contribute to sustainable food security in developing countries? In order to answer these questions this policy brief tries to assess the economic, social and environmental sustainability of organic agriculture and to identify its problems and benefits in developing countries. Organic agriculture shows several benefits, as it reduces many of the environmental impacts of conventional agriculture, it can increase productivity in small farmers’ fields, it reduces reliance on costly external inputs, and guarantees price premiums for organic products. Organic farmers also benefit from organizing in farmer cooperatives and the building of social networks, which provide them with better access to training, credit and health services.
    [Show full text]
  • Organic Farming a Way to Sustainable Agriculture
    International Journal of Agriculture and Food Science Technology. ISSN 2249-3050, Volume 4, Number 9 (2013), pp. 933-940 © Research India Publications http://www.ripublication.com/ ijafst.htm Organic Farming A Way to Sustainable Agriculture Iyer Shriram Ganeshan, Manikandan.V.V.S, Ritu Sajiv, Ram Sundhar.V and Nair Sreejith Vijayakumar Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Amrita School of Engineering, Coimbatore–641 105, India. Abstract Most cultivable lands today, do not possess sustained fertility, the reason being human encroachment. The use of modern day chemical fertilizers and pesticides has resulted in the degradation of the health of the soil. This has led to inevitable variations in temperature and pH values of the soil, decreasing the yield. The need to improve fertility with the available cultivable lands is necessary. To achieve this, certain organic methods are to be followed in order to attain sustained fertility of the soil which can help us in the long run. One such method is ORGANIC FARMING WITH WORMS. This organic, natural approach to improve the fertility of the soil is not something new to the world of farming. This ancient, time tested methodology has its own significance in improving the fertility. Specific species of earthworms such as EARTH BURROWING WORMS has been made use of in this type of methodology. By comparing the yield obtained with and without using deep burrowing worms, the significance of sustainable farming is reinforced. Index Terms: Organic, Sustainable Farming, Permaculture, Vermiculture, Mulching. 1. Introduction Organic farming is the practice that relies more on using sustainable methods to cultivate crops rather than introducing chemicals that do not belong to the natural eco system.
    [Show full text]
  • Developing an Individual Farm Organic System Plan
    ® ® University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Know how. Know now. G2146 Developing an Individual Farm Organic System Plan Elizabeth A. Sarno, Extension Educator / Organic Project Coordinator Charles A. Francis, Professor Agronomy & Horticulture Twyla M. Hansen, Organic Project Assistant Organic Farming and Related NebGuides for Nebraska This publication is part of a NebGuide series on organic farming being developed by University of Nebraska– Lincoln Extension. As the publications are completed, they will be available on the UNL Extension Publications website. Go to extension.unl.edu/publications and enter the title into the search box, or contact your local exten- sion office. • University of Nebraska–Lincoln Organic Farming • Bird Conservation on Working Farms Research • Selecting Winter Wheat Cultivars for Organic • Transitioning to Organic Farming Production • Developing a Farm Organic System Plan • Flame Weeding in Agronomic Crops • Certification Process for Organic Production • Cover Crops Suitable for Nebraska • Healthy Farm Index • Nutrient Management in Organic Farming substances for organic production (NOP §205.601), go to: An overview of the legal standards required by www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/nop. the USDA National Organic Program for organic certification. NOP §205.2 Organic system plan standard states: Organic Farming [A organic system plan is] “…a plan of management of an organic production or handling operation that has been To sell agricultural products in the agreed to by the producer or handler and the certifying agent U.S. as organic, farmers and proces- and that includes written plans concerning all aspects of sors must follow the legal standards of agricultural production or handling described in the Act and the USDA National Organic Program the regulations in subpart C of this part.” (NOP) that certify the organic integ- This standard defines organic farming as a production rity of the production and marketing system that is managed in accordance with the Organic Foods process.
    [Show full text]
  • Organic Farming and Deforestation’
    PUBLISHED: 1 JULY 2016 | ARTICLE NUMBER: 16101 | DOI: 10.1038/NPLANTS.2016.101 correspondence Reply to ‘Organic farming and deforestation’ Reganold and Wachter reply — We limited in discussing other important instruments and certification standards3,5. appreciate Tayleur and Phalan1 elaborating sustainability metrics, particularly aspects With growing demands on farmland and on the important challenge of habitat of social wellbeing. This gives strength increasing pressures on natural habitat, conversion facing agriculture. Indeed the to the argument that studies need to be progress will depend on targeting research, relationship between agricultural expansion done that adequately assess agriculture’s implementing effective policies and and habitat loss is complex2, and we did impacts on land-use change as well as other enforcing the protection of wildlands. ❐ not have space to delve into this complexity less-measured sustainability metrics4. 3 References in our paper . Moreover, the intent of We do think that organic and other 1. Tayleur, C. & Phalan, B. Nature Plants 2, 16098 (2016). our paper was not to critique organic third-party certification programmes, and 2. Kremen, C. Ann. NY. Acad. Sci. 1355, 52–76 (2015). certification programmes but to evaluate any government agricultural incentive 3. Reganold, J. P. & Wachter, J. M. Nature Plants 2, 15221 (2016). the 40 years of science examining the effects programmes, should be linked to strong 4. Sachs, J. et al. Nature 466, 558–560 (2010). of organic and conventional farming on conservation measures preventing 5. Phalan, B. et al. Science 351, 450–451 (2016). sustainability metrics. deforestation and other forms of habitat We agree that land-use change is conversion.
    [Show full text]
  • Desertification and Agriculture
    BRIEFING Desertification and agriculture SUMMARY Desertification is a land degradation process that occurs in drylands. It affects the land's capacity to supply ecosystem services, such as producing food or hosting biodiversity, to mention the most well-known ones. Its drivers are related to both human activity and the climate, and depend on the specific context. More than 1 billion people in some 100 countries face some level of risk related to the effects of desertification. Climate change can further increase the risk of desertification for those regions of the world that may change into drylands for climatic reasons. Desertification is reversible, but that requires proper indicators to send out alerts about the potential risk of desertification while there is still time and scope for remedial action. However, issues related to the availability and comparability of data across various regions of the world pose big challenges when it comes to measuring and monitoring desertification processes. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and the UN sustainable development goals provide a global framework for assessing desertification. The 2018 World Atlas of Desertification introduced the concept of 'convergence of evidence' to identify areas where multiple pressures cause land change processes relevant to land degradation, of which desertification is a striking example. Desertification involves many environmental and socio-economic aspects. It has many causes and triggers many consequences. A major cause is unsustainable agriculture, a major consequence is the threat to food production. To fully comprehend this two-way relationship requires to understand how agriculture affects land quality, what risks land degradation poses for agricultural production and to what extent a change in agricultural practices can reverse the trend.
    [Show full text]
  • An Overview: Conventional & Organic Agriculture
    An Overview: Conventional & Organic Agriculture Just as every consumer makes food choices based on their own tastes and priorities, farmers make decisions about what works best for their own farms. Conventional and organic agriculture are both important to supporting this diversity and choice. The Basics What: Conventional and organic farming both share the same priority: producing safe, nutritious food and supporting farmers’ livelihoods. Both organic and conventional farming affect the environment in different ways – and farms don’t divide neatly into two simple categories. Conventional farms aren’t all the same, and organic farms aren’t all the same – some farms even use both conventional and organic practices, depending on the choice of crops. Why: There is no right or wrong way to farm. Every choice a farmer makes can have advantages and disadvantages. Preserving farmers’ ability to use every tool available allows them to make the best decisions for their farms and to continue providing consumers with choice. How: Conventional utilizes modern technologies to optimize efficiency while preserving natural resources. Conventional farmers generally use modern technologies like GMOs, chemical crop protection, synthetic fertilizers and other practices. Organic is focused on an ecological production management system that minimizes farm inputs. Organic requirements differ between countries, but they generally aim to control pests, diseases and weeds with approaches such as crop rotations, disease resistant crop varieties, and the use of non-synthetic pesticides (whenever available), and fertilize the soil using recycled organic materials, like animal manure. The Background Consumers today are more interested than ever in how their food is produced and there are a wide variety of choices available to them based on their own priorities and values.
    [Show full text]
  • Organic Farming As a Development Strategy: Who Are Interested and Who Are Not?
    Vol. 3, No. 1 Journal of Sustainable Development Organic Farming as A Development Strategy: Who are Interested and Who are not? Mette Vaarst Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Aarhus P.O.Box 50, DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark Tel: 45-22-901-344 E-mail: Mette.Vaarst[a]agrsci.dk Abstract Much evidence shows that implementation of organic farming (OF) increases productivity in the Global South, and that it will be possible to feed a growing world population with food produced in OF systems. OF is explored, analysed and discussed in relation to the principles of Ecology, Health, Care and Fairness as enunciated by IFOAM, as a developmental strategy. Major financial powers are involved in the agro-related industries. A number of civil society-based organisations point to the major negative side effects of the trade with and use of agro-chemical products environmentally and in the further deepening of the gaps between rich and poor. The MDGs target the environmental sustainability explicitly, and OF is regarded as being a relevant strategy to meet many goals. A global development strategy is needed that explicitly includes future generations, ecosystems, biodiversity and plant and animal species threatened by eradication. Keywords: Organic farming principles, Health, Care, Fairness, Ecology, Development strategy, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Food security 1. Introduction: Organic and agro-ecological agriculture can feed the world – if we want to Organic and agro-ecological farming methods are based on the key principles of Health, Ecology, Fairness and Care enunciated by IFOAM (IFOAM, 2005; see Table 1). These principles are implemented in various sets of standards, legislation and guidelines in different countries, and are valued by the consumers and citizens of those countries for different reasons, such as that they guarantee healthy food production, assure environmental protection and emphasise local resources and food systems.
    [Show full text]
  • Organic Farming - Stewardship for Sustainable Agriculture
    Review Article Agri Res & Tech: Open Access J Volume 13 Issue 3 - January 2018 Copyright © All rights are reserved by Kanu Murmu DOI: 10.19080/ARTOAJ.2018.13.555883 Organic Farming - Stewardship for Sustainable Agriculture Kanu Murmu* Department of Agronomy, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, India Submission: October 26, 2017; Published: January 17, 2018 *Corresponding author: Dr. Kanu Murmu, Department of Agronomy, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, P.O- Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur-741252, Nadia (WB), India, Email: Abstract A key issue in the debate on the contribution of organic agriculture to the future of world agriculture is whether organic agriculture can agriculture can contribute to sustainable food production system. A sustainable food system also encourages local production and distribution infrastructuresproduce sufficient and food makes to feed nutritious the world. food While available, organic accessible, agriculture and is affordable rapidly expanding, to all. In theorder important to have questiona clear understanding is to understand of thehow role organic that “organicKeywords agriculture”: Organic farming; plays on Environmental sustainability, furthersustainability; research Food is necessary. security; Economic sustainability; Soil health Introduction Agriculture sector plays an important role to improve the Therefore, organic farming seems to be a viable option to improve food security of smallholding farms by increasing the food security of the growing population globally. About income/decreasing input cost; producing more for home economic growth of developing countries apart from fulfilling one billion people lack access to adequate food and nutrition consumption, and adopting ecologically sustainable practices worldwide. The expected agricultural production has to be with locally available resources but, improvement is needed doubled so as to cater the needs of estimated 9 billion people further for all dimensions of food security [5].
    [Show full text]
  • Organic Farming and the Sustainability of Agricultural Systems
    Agricultural Systems 68(2001) 21±40 www.elsevier.com/locate/agsy Organic farming and the sustainability of agricultural systems D. Rigby a,*, D. Ca ceres b aSchool of Economic Studies, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK bDepartment of Rural Development, National University of CoÂrdoba, CC509-5000, CoÂrdoba, Argentina Received 20 October 1998; received in revised form 1 September 1999; accepted 30 October 2000 Abstract The desire for a sustainable agriculture is universal, yet agreement on how to progress towards it remains elusive. The extent to which the concept of sustainable agriculture has any operational meaning is discussed. Sustainability is considered in relation to organic farming Ð a sector growing rapidly in many countries. The role of regulation and the use of synthetic agrochemicals, the desired degree of self reliance of agricultural systems, and the scale of production and trade in agricultural goods are all considered in the context of this discussion of sustainability. # 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Sustainability; Organic farming; Self-suciency; Agrochemical The concept of sustainability lies at the heart of the debates that currently exist over the use of the planet's natural resources, yet there is no consensus on its meaning despite its intuitive appeal (Park and Seaton, 1996). This paper focuses on sustainable agriculture, although there is still no consensus on this more speci®c aspect of sustainability. Some have argued that, for example, organic farming and sustainable agriculture are synonymous, others regard them as separate concepts that should not be equa- ted. The relationship between organic agricultural systems and agricultural sustain- ability is therefore examined in this paper.
    [Show full text]
  • Organic Food and Farming
    Organic food and farming Organic vs non-organic : the facts 2 Acknowledgements The research and publication of this report was The organisations listed below are very pleased to made possible by the financial support of the JMG support the publication of this report. Foundation and the Soil Association. The project was They believe it will make a valuable contribution to co-ordinated and researched by Catherine Fookes, the debate on organic food and farming. with assistance from Kath Dalmeny. Each of the organisations may be indicating its formal agreement only in those areas where it has The following people and organisations gave advice, specific competence. information and support for which we are extremely grateful: Andersen, Jens Otto Kyrikiades, Alec Association of Unpasteurised Milk Producers and Consumers Alexander, Ian Lang, Tim Biodynamic Agricultural Association Altieri, Miguel Leifert, Carlo British Dietetics Association Anderson, Luke Lobstein, Tim Butterfly Conservation Barling, David Long, Adrian Common Ground Barry, Dick Longfield, Jeanette Commonwork Land Trust Bell, Sandra McLaughlin, Alan Compassion in World Farming Benbrook, Charles Meadows, Donella East Anglia Food Links Blake, Francis Meziani, Gundula Ecological Foundation Brenman, Simon Moore, Tony Ecologist Bristol Cancer Help Centre Nash, Steve Elm Farm Research Centre Brown, Lynda Niggli, Urs Family Farmers’ Association Buffin, David Padel, Susanne Farmer’s Link Burton, Michele Molgaard, Jens Peter Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens Burton, Kathie
    [Show full text]
  • Organic Livestock Production: an Emerging Opportunity with New Challenges for Producers in Tropical Countries
    Rev. sci. tech. Off. int. Epiz., 2011, 30 (3), 969-983 Organic livestock production: an emerging opportunity with new challenges for producers in tropical countries M. Chander (1), B. Subrahmanyeswari (2), R. Mukherjee (3) & S. Kumar (3) (1) Principal Scientist, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar-243 122 (UP), India (2) Associate Professor, NTR College of Veterinary Science, Gannavaram-521-102 (AP), India (3) Senior Scientist, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar-243 122 (UP), India Submitted for publication: 4 November 2009 Accepted for publication: 15 December 2010 Summary Agrochemicals, veterinary drugs, antibiotics and improved feeds can increase the food supply while minimising production costs in various livestock production systems around the world. However, these days, quality-conscious consumers are increasingly seeking environmentally safe, chemical-residue- free healthy foods, along with product traceability and a high standard of animal welfare, which organic production methods are said to ensure. Organic production is not only a challenge for producers in developing countries, it offers new export opportunities as well. Organic agriculture is practised by 1.8 million producers in 160 countries, and production of organically grown food continues to increase steadily by 15% per year. Most tropical countries are now exporting organic agricultural products but, apart from organic beef from Brazil and Argentina, organic livestock products are yet to take off. Most trade in organic livestock products is restricted to the European Union and other developed nations. Nevertheless, tropical countries cannot afford to neglect this emerging system of animal production. Organic production is knowledge- and management-intensive. Producers must be well versed in organic production standards, principles and practices, which require a high degree of knowledge and skill.
    [Show full text]