| About Necofa | General Acitivities | Projects | National Network Groups | Picture Gallery | Services | Contact & Imprint |
|
Vol.7, No.3 |
Network for Ecofarming in Africa (NECOFA) is among several communities and organisations that received the “Get on Board bus” in Kenya on its journey from South Africa to the G8 summit in Scotland on 6th July, 2005.
“Get on Board campaign” involves collection of voices and messages from urban and rural communities in South and Eastern African countries targeting the worlds rich governments. The campaign is organized by Action Aid International in its involvement in the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP).
The bus (commonly used as means of transport in most African countries and in Kenya refered to as “matatu”) left Johannesburg, South Africa on 31st March and will cover a 12,000 miles journey through Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, France and UK on its way to the G8 summit.
Why it is important
“At the start of the 21st century more than a billion people are trapped in abject poverty. We face an AIDS emergency, with 40 million people already infected by the disease. More than 100 million children don’t go to primary school, and 860 million adults (most of them women) cannot read or write. Hunger is a daily reality for many. In parts of the world the death of mothers in childbirth and children in infancy is still routine – deaths that could be prevented by the availability of simple healthcare while 1.4 billion people don’t have access to safe water. This poverty is a violation of human rights on a massive scale; it is compounded by the trade injustice that keeps people poor. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights protects the rights of all people to an adequate standard of living and well-being, including food, clothing, housing, and medical care: rights whose achievement are undermined by unjust trade practices.
Efforts to tackle poverty and deliver sustainable development, as pledged in the Millenium Declaration are grossly inadequate. Governments too often fail to address the needs of their citizens, aid from rich countries is inadequate in both quality and quantity, and promises of dept cancellation have not materialized. Rich countries have yet to act on their repeated pledges to tackle unfair trade rules and practices. For the first time in history, there is the means to turn this situation around.
The ‘Get on Board’ campaign will take poor peoples messages, faces, struggles and aspirations right into where decisions that affect them are made. This campaign is important because it provides a unique opportunity for local people to get their voices heard first hand at the G8 summit by the world leaders. Previously poor people have never been given the opportunity to engage the world leaders directly”. (Quoted from ActionAid)
Get on Board bus in Kenya
The bus entered Kenya through the boarder town of Namanga from Tanzania on May 1st where it was received by a big crowd composed mainly of the pastoral Maasai community. Also present to receive the bus were Kenya Poverty Eradication Commission chairman, Action Aid Country Director and Tanzania’s East Africa Legislative Assembly members among others.
During the reception of the bus and the team heading to Scotland, rich nations were asked to cancel debts to African countries that stands at about USD 4 billions and the resources should be channeled to education, health and other infrastructure. They were further asked to increase aid to the continent to help alleviate poverty that in Kenya has about 56% living on less than a dollar per day.
The meeting also demanded reduction in trade imbalance between the poor South and the rich North and lowering of the cost of Aids treatment. A maasai elder Mr. Mengeti ole Kisarmoi said that “Africa’s future will be bleak if Aids is not contained” (Daily Nation May 2, 2005). It was noted that good governance is important for better utilization of growth and fighting poverty in Africa.
The bus team was in Nairobi on 2nd May during the launch of the Action Aid International HIV/Aids campaign where the Kenyan President Hon. Mwai Kibaki presided over the launch. He thanked Global call for Action Against Poverty Coalition for choosing Kenya for the launch of the campaign. The bus team on 4th May visited Kibera slums in the outcasts of Nairobi for a rally and collecting messages.
On 5th May the bus was in Nakuru which is provincial headquarters of Rift Valley Province. It was received by among others NGOMA Association (Organization for small-scale dairy and maize farmers). It is in this region that Kenya produces most of the pyrethrum for which it supplies the world market with 60-75%. Marketing of this biodegradable and environmentally friendly pest control chemical has met stiff competition in the last five years and farmers have not been paid for their produce since October 2002. The marketing problem is attributed to unfair international trade policies that are skewed in favour of synthetic substances that are ‘cheap’ (not really cheap when one considers their harmful effect on the environment and the risk involved in application especially by poor urban and rural communities) from the North and poor policies at national level.
The messages presented to the team in Nakuru included: -
On 6th May the team visited Eldoret in North Rift (also referred to as the countries “grain basket”) and among others met the world’s eldest pupil (at 84 years) Mr. Kimani Maruge a student at Kapkenduiywo primary school. He said his wish was to see more schools built to ease congestion currently experienced in most schools.
The bus left Kenya through the Western border town of Malaba for Uganda and will be in Kampala (to visit urban poor, public rallies, positive lives exhibition) then on 9th May to Mbale; 11th May in Katakwi; 12th May Kapchorwa before entering back to Kenya through Busia on 15th. On 16th May they visit Bundalangi and Usigu (area prone to flooding, tsetse fly and Malaria) then on 17th visit Miwani (sugar cane growing area). May 20th – 22nd the team will be in Mombassa before leaving through the Indian Ocean port for France.
TOGETHER WE SHARE OVERCOME!
1.1 NECOFA SA
NECOFA SA aims at acting as a forum to support local, provincial and national activities promoting organic farming and sociologically sustainable land use and management in South Africa.
The key working areas of NECOFA are the following:
Africa
NEWSLETTER
NECOFA-SA has identified and co-ordinated a team of expert service providers, who will beneficiate all aspects of the organic value chain. These service providers are all NECOFA-SA members, who are contracted to provide services as defined on a project-by-project basis according to project needs, structure, budget and schedule and will be managed by NECOFA-SA. NECOFA SA is co-ordinated by Mr. Conrad Mhlongo.
LPDA/BASED
BASED is a project of the Limpopo Province Department of Agriculture (LPDA), which is in partnership with the German Development Co-operation (GTZ).
Since 1998 BASED focus has been on development and implementation of participatory approaches for the mobilisation and self-organisation of rural communities aimed at better articulating service demands and managing the institutional responses of public service organisations.
One of the major impact areas is the development of strong farmer-based local organisations. In relation to this impact area, the attainments of the following specific results are envisaged:
The BASED farmer organisational system:
The establishment of Umbrella Organisations (UOs) is seen as a form of social innovation for the co-ordination and reorganisation of smallholder farmers and other interest groups at community level. UOs are horizontal and non-hierarchical organisations at village level formed by representatives of the different self-help groups (including non–agricultural groups). They co-ordinate group planning processes and facilitate the establishment of linkages with service providers and modern and traditional authorities.
Since the end of 2002 networking activities of the different UOs in the different districts have let to a democratically elected and representative task team. It is mandated from the basis to establish a farmer based development association (Limpopo Development Association, LDA) at provicial level. LDA is supposed to mobilise other communities to disseminate self-organisational models and sustainable rural livelihood (SRL) principles and values, such as self-reliance, unity and co-operation. At the same time, LDA is supposed to start networking initiatives at provincial level with other farmer groups to broaden its affiliated groups and to make more visible smallholder farmers organisations and demands. Moreover the LDA should represent smallholder farmers’ interests and demands in key strategy development events organised by LPDA
The further establishment of LDA as formal farmer-based association, in terms of further organisational consolidation and registration as a legal entity, is in progress.
LDA can provide its large number of affiliated smallholder farmers groups, where organic farming activities can be organised. Through the joint support of LPDA/BASED and NECOFA, the existing farmer organisations could have the potential to expand their membership basis and establish Organic Farming Producer Associations to strengthen and channel organic production, respective services and linkages with markets. LDA has already nurtured the Seed Growers Service Co-op as a farmer-controlled enterprise (FCE). Similarly to this process it is envisaged that LDA becomes the major promoter for the development of Limpopo Organic Farming “Cooperative” as FCE.
At the same time LDA could expand its capacity as community based service provider for training and mobilisation to spread similar organisational model to other communities and develop skills in the realm of sustainable agriculture to increase coverage and effectiveness of present extension services.
1.2 Beneficiaries of this MoU
The beneficiaries of this MoU are the Limpopo smallholder farmer-based organisations, in particular the LDA of BASED and the following smallholder farmer organisations supported by NECOFA:
„Phadima Community Project“,
„Bophelo ke Semphekgo Trust“ and
„Elandskraal Smallholder Farmer Association..“
2 THE MEMORADUM OF UNDERSTANDING
LPDA through the BASED project established the smallholder farmer representatives organisation as a social innovation to promote coordination, self-reliance and sustainable rural livelihood in the province. In order to increase the option for production and income generation, the Department intense to explore organic farming potential for the benefit of smallholder farmers. It is therefore necessary for the Department to seek strategic partners to create awareness, to give training to farmers, to conduct trials, to investigate markets etc. In view of NECOFA been the largest network of organisations in South Africa involved in organic farming, it will be beneficiary for LPDA to collaborate with them to benefit the smallholder farmers in organic farming.
2.1 Organic Farming for organised smallholders
Organic farming aims at conserving natural resources, biodiversity and long-term sustainable agriculture. It largely excludes pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. Instead it focuses on biological processes such as composting and other measures to maintain soil fertility, natural pest control and diversifying crops and livestock.
Smallholder farmers would benefit from growing organic. Producing in small scale, without pesticides, using compost and manure as fertilizers, they are not able compete with well-established large commercial farmers; but they would benefit from growing for an organic niche market. Introducing Limpopo smallholder farmers organisations to organic farming and linking them to markets for organic products would improve their income potentials, increase environmental and economical sustainability of farming activities and thus strengthen farmers’ productivity and self-reliance.
Other farmer associations, like the NECOFA farmer organisations in Limpopo, have already engaged with organic farming and indigenous seeds. They can contribute with experiences in organic farming and at the same time strengthen their networking activities with LDA and other farmer organisations in the province.
2.2 Objectives of the Partnership
The overall goal of the collaborative work of LPDA/BASED and NECOFA is to promote and support smallholder farmer in organic farming.
More specifically the objectives of the partnership are as follows:
2.3 Code of Conduct and Working Relationships between the two partners
This agreement describes the working arrangements and defines roles and responsibilities between NECOFA and LPDA/BASED to realise the objectives as set out above.
Both parties agree on the following:
The aim of this partnership is to build on and further develop the existing potential of community-based farmer organisations initiated by LPDA to increase farmers options for production and participate in the niche market through organic farming.
The responsibility for the attainment of the objectives set out in chapter 2.2 for strengthening and empowerment of organic farmers in Limpopo Province rest with both LPDA/BASED and NECOFA.
Promoting and facilitating official visits and exchange of information between the LPDA top-management and NECOFA management committee shall be promoted.
The area of operation of this joint partnership is the Limpopo Province even though the participation of farmer representatives in national and regional events shall be promoted and supported.
Organising regular planning and progress review meetings together with farmer representatives on a quarterly basis or more often if deemed necessary.
On the basis of the scope of the respective organisations, programmes/projects and the available funding, the two partners agree to ensure the joint funding of planned activities in the field
In case of dispute a task team with representatives of the two parties identifies conflict resolution mechanism. The task team is responsible to give feedback to both parties. LPDA & GTZ shall identify the relevant legal terms and conditions for this issue.
Both parties are guided in this collaborative working relationship by the values of openness and co-operation, honesty and decision-making through consensus.
LPDA/BASED agree to take the following roles and responsibilities:
2.4 General provisions
a) Any amendments to this MoU will be made in writing and signed by both parties.
b) This memorandum of understanding covers the period from 05 July 2005 to 05-July 2007 and shall be reviewed on a regular basis on request of any of the two parties and continued with consensus of both partners.
c) Either parties may terminate its participation in this MoU by providing three months written notice.
d) All correspondence concerning this agreement will be addressed to the organizations' representatives listed below:
EM reduces the costs of farming over time. The rate of reduction is variable, based on several factors. At the onset, a farmer would have to use EM with irrigation, spray EM and add bokashi several times throughout the season. Large quantities may also be needed to observe benefits in a short period of time.
However, soil conditions change with the addition of EM. The EM in soils becomes Self-propagating and the quantity of EM required declines. Eventually, the farm may only require small quantities of EM. Thus, once equilibrium is reached, one may only have to add bokashi treated manure to the soil along with post harvest residues, soon after harvest. This could be followed with an application of extended EM at dilutions of 1: 2000 or even 1: 5000 with irrigation water.
The quantity to be applied in the future will be dependent on the conditions at that time, although it would be much lower than at the inception.
At inception, a farmer routinely using agrochemicals would have to apply EM and agrochemicals, for economic reasons. If the soil is very poor and depleted of organic matter, a direct transfer to EM will not give a profitable harvest in the first few seasons.
Thus a period of transition is required for such a farmer to develop a suitable environment for organic farming. Under these conditions, consistent application of EM and organic matter is a very important aspect to build up a suitable environment for EM.
In contrast, if a farmer had been cultivating crops under organic systems, thereby ensuring a high quantum of soil organic matter, the first season with EM would bring enhanced profits.
The time required for a degraded soil to enhance its productive value is dependent on three factors. These are: -
Theoretically, a highly degraded soil could be made into one suitable for EM within one year. This could be done by covering the field with large quantities of bokashi treated manure and other organic matter. Extended or secondary EM is used to flood the field thereafter, and plant debris remaining after harvest is ploughed back into the soil. These operations are carried out prior to planting.
During crop growth in the season, extended EM is sprayed onto crops and supplied with irrigation water, with applications of bokashi and organic matter to the base of plants. These processes would ensure the development of the soil within 12 months.
One must also understand that EM is not an agrochemical, and thus it must not be treated as such. In contrast, EM is a mixture of microbial inoculants found in all ecosystems. It is living substance and does not contain any genetically engineered organisms. If it was so, EM could not be made at different locations, using native micro organisms, as being done in over 20 countries at present.
EM is used for initiating beneficial biological functions such as composting, degradation of organic matter, cleansing the environment and controlling pests and disease. This is done by the introduction of beneficial micro organisms to the plant environment. Therefore, pests and pathogens are controlled or suppressed through natural processes by the competitive or antagonistic behaviour of the Effective Micro-organisms.
| apllication_of_em.pdf |
| About Necofa | General Acitivities | Projects | National Network Groups | Picture Gallery | Services | Contact & Imprint |
