Vol. 9, No. 2 - Necofa

TRAINING WORKSHOP IN ORGANIC CERTIFICATION

<h5> Organic certification workshop report</h5>

Date: 24^TH – 25^TH May 2007

<h2>Venue: Tompi Seleka College</h2>

Compiled by: Regina Mampane

Edited by: P. Komane and M. Mphahlele

Session 1

1. Welcome +Objectives +

2. Overview of ICS

3. Internal organic standard

4. Registration of new farmers

<h6>Session 2 </h6>

5. Internal inspections

6. Yield estimates

7. Internal approval and sanctions

8. ICS documentation

<h6>Session 3</h6>

9. ICS Personnel

10. Annual training

11. Buying, handling, processing, export

12. External inspection

13. Distribution of papers and CDs

<h6>Session 4</h6>

14. Tompi Seleka Farm review in terms of organic

requirements

<h1 style="text-align: left;" align="left">Session 1 </h1>

1. Opening

2. Recapping

3. Map in organic agriculture

Session 2

4. What the inspector must not do when visiting the farmers

5. Test on organic agriculture

6. Discussion on the organic issues and certification

7. Internal control committee

8. Way forward

9. Next steps

10. Workshop evaluation

11. Vote of thanks

12. Closure

Day 1 Program: 24/05/2007

Session	Day 1 (24th May 2007)
8h00 – 10h00	v Welcome +Objectives + v Overview of ICS v Internal organic standard v Registration of new farmers
Tea \ coffee Break
11h00 – 13h00	v Internal inspections v Yield estimates v Internal approval and sanctions v ICS documentation
Lunch Break
14h00 – 16h00	v ICS Personnel v Annual training v Buying, handling, processing, export v External inspection v Distribution of papers and CDs
Tea \ coffee Break
17h00 – 18h00	v Tompi Seleka Farm review in terms of organic requirements v Closure

1. Welcome: Dlomu KP

She opened the session with a prayer. She encourages everyone to participate and cooperate throughout the workshop.

2. Objectives: Joe Ramaru

q Participants are exposed to the concept of organic certification and related requirements and procedures

q Participants learn from Nkomamonto project on how they went about getting certified

q Participants identify what their projects have and have not according to the requirements

q Each pilot project identify action steps that need to be in place for their certification

q Based on the action steps, participants develop an operational framework for each pilot

q Agreement on the next steps

3. Outline: Joe Ramaru

Joe Ramaru introduced Diana who presented the overview of organic certification

4. Internal inspections: Diana Callear

q Check organic fields with coffee & banana around farmers house, incl. all borders to check drift

q Visit of conventional maize fields (5 min walk from house

q Water contamination by depulping?

q Waste in the fields?

q (Ask neighbors)

(Investigate in village

5. Yield estimates: Diana Callear

q Accurate yield estimates are used to reconcile the expected production of each farmer with actual yields.

q -

Yield estimates are used to verify that the product sold by each farmer is produced only on his or her farm

6. Internal approval and sanction: Diana Callear

The approvals committee MUST:

q Screen internal inspection checklists

q Decision on approval

q Decide necessary corrective measures

q Sanction as required

7. ICS documentation: Diana Callear

q One certificate, one marketing channel

q Internal inspections, external check

q Documents: procedures, forms, internal regulation, Contracts, farmers‘ files

q Continuous risk management

q Internal approval and handling of non-compliances

q •Sanctions system

q Marketing system

q Annual approved farms list

q Training, training, training

8. ICS personnel: Diana Callear

q Serious problems should always be reported immediately to ICS coordinator

9. Annual training: Diana Callear

Training should involve a range of skills:

q Updates on changes to the standards, procedures, layout of documents

q In the first year, in particular, practical experience in inspections with an experienced inspector.

q Working with other inspectors in other areas would also be useful to broaden the experience.

q Ongoing training for farmers

q Organic training sessions are linked to updating the staff and farmers knowledge in changes to the standards or forms and procedures for recording yields, inputs and sales

q Regular training in specific skills, such as organic fertility management, builds knowledge and trusts and will reduce the risk of things going wrong.

q Training is also important as it provides an opportunity for informal checks for assessing farmers progress and can highlight issues that need urgent attention and solve problems

q The trainer should keep records of training dates and who participates. This adds another level to the informal assessment of each farmer’s commitment to the ICS and organic farming

10. Buying, handling, processing, export: Diana Callear

q The buying, handling, processing, and exporting of products are usually the responsibility of the ICS operator,

q OR another party (e.g. the processor) takes responsibility for product flow right from the farm gate.

q Buying procedures ensure that the product is purchased from certified farmers only.

q The organic product entering the processing system must not be contaminated or commingled with un-certified products.

11. External inspection: Diana Callear

This is checked by the external (eg Afrisco) inspector by:

q Evaluation of ICS manual

q Farm file checking at ICS office

q Comparison with results of re-inspections

q Interviews with staff

q Review of farmers lists

q Overall risk assessment by inspector

12. Distribution of papers and CD’S: Diana Callear

q Handed to participants

13. Tompi Seleka farm review in terms of organic

requirements

q Farm map and analyses

q Risk assessment

q Recommendations for certification

<h5>Day 2 Program: 25/05/2007</h5>

Session	Day 2 (25th May 2007)
8h00 – 10h00	v Opening v Recapping v Map in organic agriculture
Tea \ coffee Break
10h15 – 13h00	v What the inspector must not do when visiting the farmers v Test on organic agriculture v Discussion on the organic issues and certification v Way forward v Vote of thanks v Closure

1. Opening

2. Recapping-what insights did we get about organic

certification (what was learnt): Participants

q They have to spent three years so that the chemicals can be washed, after that they have to inspect the farm for organic farming

q They have to do record keeping for recording everything which is happening in the field

q It is essential for the farmers to keep their own records

q Draw the map for the field to guide the inspector on direction

q Internal inspector-to have a small committee in the field which is going to work with the extension officer to check as to whether people are using correct methods on organic farming

q Methods of inspecting animals

q They are afraid of more money which is going to be spent for inspection

q Methods of making a good compost for organic farming

q They are not allowed to use vegetables leaves which was made of chemicals to make compost

q Importance of organic agriculture

q To build soil for organic farming

q To have certificates in order to have good markets

q To look at presence soil structures

q They have learnt that they must be buffer zones between two farmers

q To burn grass is not allowed for organic farming (cleaning of primary forest)

q Learnt about risk factors e.g. use of pesticides

q They must be buffer zones to separate organic farming from conventional

q Soil and water structure.

q Plot should be in low risk area

q They must be separate storage for organic farming and conventional. Organic produce should be kept away from conventional produce

q Using of dead animals unless the inspector tells you to do

q Significance of buffer zone on parallel production (trees)

q Importance of water analysis

q Avoid using of plastics when making compost because it doesn’t decomposed

q Toilet must be 50 m away from the farm

3. Map in organic agriculture: Participants

q Need to know what your neighbour is planting

q Industrial activity

q Any external pollution that can temper with the crops

q Indicate all the risk factors

q To get a picture of what is happening in a farm e.g. bottom land

q To have government printed maps

q Have regional maps e.g. road maps, town, village etc

q Internal regulation e.g. working with extension officer, scientists

4. How the inspector must act when visiting the

farmers: Stephen Barrow

q Should be literate

q Should be independent, have respect and honest

q Should not accept gifts from the farmers

5. Test on organic agriculture: Participants

6. Discussion on organic issues and certification: Participants

7. Way forward: Peter Komane

q He is going to call a NECOFA meeting between the trainers, mentors, certifier to develop common approach on training and mentoring of farmers and extension officers

q Talk to Joe Ramaru about the next meeting between the partners

q Stephen Barrow agree to do inspection in some pilot projects

q Every pilot projects must make application for certification but they have a choice to chose their own certifier, but NECOFA chose Afrisco to do certification

q They don’t include Letlapapula in certification because they have been inspected

q NECOFA will make a proposal to raise fund for pilot projects certification

q They will help pilot projects to raise money for certification in the first three years of registering

q Afrisco will only do inspection after pilot projects did application for certification

8. Internal control system committee: District coordinators

District	Project	Internal Control Co-ordinator
Vhembe district	Lambani	Mayimele GE
Capricorn district	Maboi 3	Sibanyoni Mokgadi
Waterberg	Letlapapula	Mamabolo Z
Sekhukhune	Ikageng	Morutse M
Mopani	Nkomamonto	Dlomu KP
Bohlabela	MTN	Maluleke TP

9. Next steps: Participation

q Feedback from the pilots project: 28 May –1st June 2007

q Application for certification:04^th –15 June

q Task team workshop: 19th –20 June 2007 at Madzivandila college

10. Workshop evaluation: Participants

q Full understanding of what certification is

q Learnt more about making a legal organic farming

q Happy to see one another again

q Participation was good

q Cooperation between officials and farmers was good

q Facilitation was good

q Many breaks were giving participants time to have good minds

q Learnt more about Internal control System

q High level of interest from all participants

q Planning forward

q Bathing with cold water in residential areas

q Translation of manuals (problematic for farmers)

q They were no ground rules

q Uncleanness of hall and toilets

q No tables

q Heaters provided were not up to standard

q Area for lunch is far from the hall (people were wasting time when coming from lunch)

q Farmers participation were low

q Organisation could not separate extension officer, scientists and farmers

q Sleeping environment was not good

q Hall was not open when workshop starts. People were forced to use toilet door to enter

11. Vote of thanks: Mpati Kwena

She thanked everyone for coming to the workshop. She also thanked the trainers about the progress of the workshop and emphasised that the workshop good and motivates people.

12. Closure

Mpati Kwena closed the workshop with a prayer

<h3>Attendance Register</h3>

Name	District	Responsibility
1.Ramaru M.J	Head office	Provincial coordinator
2.Mpati K	Head office	Deputy manager
3.Sasa R	Head office	Researcher
4.Nemakanga R	Head office	Researcher
5.Chuene R	Head office	Researcher
6.Mokobodi S	Head office	Intern
7.Mohale L	Head office	Intern
8.Ramoroka M.M	Head office	Deputy manager
9.Mphepu M.M	Vhembe district	Ward officer for Lambani
10.Mamanyuha L	Vhembe district	Soil scientists
11.Dlomu K.P	Vhembe district	Based coordinator
12.Masola L.S	Capricorn district	Ward officer for Maboi 3
13.Maheya N.T	Capricorn district	Crop scientist
14.Mamabolo Z.M	Capricorn district	Based coordinator
15.Mojapelo E	Capricorn district	Coordinator
16.Dikgole W.R	Sekhukhune district	Ward officer for Ikageng
17.Mello M.K	Sekhukhune district	Crop scientist
18.RamokonyaneT.M	Waterberg district	Agronomist
19.Morutse H.M	Waterberg district	Based coordinator
20.Mayimele G.E	Mopani district	Ward officer for Nkomamonto
21.Ubisi	Bohlabela district	Facilitator for MTN
22.Komane P	NECOFA- Biowatch	Coordinator
23.Mampane B.R	NECOFA	Scriber
24.Stephen Barrow	Afrisco	Trainer
25.Diana Callear	Afrisco	Trainer
26.Farmers	MTN	2
27. Farmers	Lambani	2
28. Farmers	Ikageng	2
29. Farmers	Maboi 3	2
30. Farmers	Letlapapula	2
31.Maluleke N.P	Tompi Seleka	Soil scientist
32.Malatjie A	Tompi Seleka	Soil scientist

_________________________________________________________________________

Environmental groups around the country will have their eyes fixed firmly on

a full bench in the Pretoria High Court on Monday when it hears an appeal

that could have a significant influence on how they operate in the future.

The court is to hear an appeal by Biowatch South Africa - a lobby group

opposed to the introduction of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into

local agriculture and the environment - against a court order that it pay

the legal costs of the South African component of transnational seed and

chemical giant Monsanto.

The costs order, which raised legal eyebrows, was made against Biowatch

during its successful application for a high court order compelling the

Department of Agriculture to provide access to information that would shed

light on the basis for the department's decisions about permitting GMO crops

in South Africa.

Monsanto South Africa (Pty) Ltd joined these court proceedings to op-pose

the application, arguing that it had to protect confidential information.

But Biowatch maintained that it did not require the release of any

information protected in law as confidential.

In February 2005, Acting Judge Eric Dunn ordered that Biowatch be granted

access to almost all the information it had requested.

He reaffirmed that the environmental group had a constitutional right to

this information, that access to the information was in the public interest

and that Biowatch had been compelled to apply to the court to exercise this

right.

The judge also said that granting access to this information was a

ne-cessary part of the proper administration of the Genetically Modified

Organisms Act.

Instead of applying the general legal principle that costs should follow the

outcome of litigation, Acting Judge Dunn ordered Biowatch South Africa to

pay the legal costs of Monsanto South Africa (Pty) Ltd.

If the costs order stands, the environmental group could effectively be

bankrupted, and similar groups would be wary of going to court in future,

even if they believe they have a watertight case to argue.

Biowatch said it was appealing the costs order partly because no order had

been made for payment of its legal costs, although it had been successful in

its application.

In addition, the court had found that it had been compelled to apply to it

for access to the information to which it was entitled.

"(Also), the costs order could have a deterrent effect on future public

interest litigation because it creates the impression that if any part of a

request for information is found to be insufficiently specific, even a

successful litigant may be heavily penalised."

The Legal Resources Centre is actng on Biowatch's behalf in the appeal.

________________________________________________________________________

Policy Work for Change

The Dynamic Policy Change Process

§Yeha Natural Resources Management Institute for Eastern Africa

( YNRM-EA ) Girma Mitiku , PhD

Policy change is a dynamic process involving an ever-changing set of actors ,ideas, agendas and politics. This multifaceted process ,however ,can be divided into five fluid stages : issues identification , solution formulation and selection ,awareness building ,policy action and evaluation .

§Stage 1. Identifying issues for policy action

§Stage 2. Developing solutions

§Stage 3. Building political support

§Stage 4. Bringing issues ,solutions and political will together for policy action

§Stage 5. Evaluating the policy action

1. Identifying issues for Policy action

§Basic Facts : [ Ethiopian Highland Reclamation Study,2005 ]

§Land and soils :

§66% of the soils are suitable for cultivation, while 12 % is utilized.

§Soil erosion :

§Nearly 50 % percent of the soils have been significantly eroded and 25% seriously eroded.

Rainwater and run-off management

§Fig1. Water use results and its impacts. Mean precipitation, runoff and sediment yield

Cont ……

§Water resources :

§110 billion m3 of surface water with an irrigation potential of 3-5 million hectares excluding rain water harvesting.

§Currently 150,000 ha are under irrigation

§Forest resource :

§Biomass fuels supply nearly 95 % of the country’s market

§Deforestation rate = 100,000-200,000 ha/annum. Fuel wood demand : 58 million m3 while supply is limited to 11 million cubic m3

§Livestock :

§30 million cattle and 40 million sheep and goats

§Livestock is an integral part of the farming system and is highly linked to land/soil and water resources degradation

2. Developing Solutions

A conceptual planning & developing workshop

[2005]

§The Praxis-Alliance Meeting provided the opportunity to discuss many of the

§major challenges to reducing poverty in Ethiopia. It also provided an important

§venue for presenting and discussing solutions to these challenges and the paramount

§considerations in applying these solutions. Collectively, these solutions reflect the values of “community-driven,” “science-led,” “technology-focused,” “educational,” and “sustainable.”

New Approaches to an Old Problem

3. Building political support

§Government officials

§Academicians

§Farmers

§NGOS

4. Building issues, solutions & political will together

I.Biofarm Model: Training

§Biofarming

§The basic principles of the Integrated Biofarm System which is based on the Integration of Natural Capital, Social Capital and Economic Capital include: return whatever you take, work with nature rather than against nature, cooperate rather than compete and use of indigenous knowledge.

Biofarm Operational objectives

§Problem solving training/education

§Eco-friendly science-based development

§Demand/community driven

§Integrated/holistic system

§Market oriented (e.g.. Ecotourism, organic products)

§Problem solving training/education

§Eco-friendly science-based development

§Demand/community driven

§Integrated/holistic system

§Market oriented (egg. Ecotourism, organic products)

II. Yeha Natural Resources Management Institute for Eastern Africa : Education

[ Bsc,Msc,and PhD programs ]

§Sharing Experience

§Mission

§To mobilize existing expertise and ideas from national and international sources.

§To generate new expertise and ideas within Ethiopia through education, training and dissemination.

§This expertise will be aimed at reducing poverty, meeting Ethiopia’s Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy Program, meeting the Millennium Development Goals, strengthening food security and environmental restoration, improving health and well-being, promoting education, and facilitating interactive technology transfer

Areas of Focus

§1. Alternative energy

§2. Water management ,utilization, harvesting ,exploration , drip irrigation

§3. Food and fiber

§4. Integrated pest management

§5. Ecological /earth sciences

§6. Innovative systems and entrepreneurship

Guiding Principle for Curriculum Design

§Strong core component built through phases ,modules and courses

§Close links between theory and practice

§Problem solving approach

§Coordination between ecology/environment & production/economy with sustainability

Evaluating the policy action

§Over 20,000 trainees and visitors have been trained in Ethiopia

§between 2003 and 2005 at the Biofarm (Addis Ababa) directly and they in turn trained 10 each, and reached 200 ,0000 different beneficiaries (for example women and men farmers, disabled, school children, extension workers, teachers, faith based organizations , fuel carriers and prisoners).

Biofarm model farms have been established in seven regional zones

__________________________________________________________________________________

The Advantages of Using Solar Driers

Bwana-Simba, Eria

qas@kari.go.ug

A farming group was introduced to solar drying technology and they wonder if it is different from their traditional drying technology. Why should they abandon their traditional ways and use this type of technology?

Solar drying methods, like traditional sun drying, depend on the sun for the source of energy but also involve the use of some form of structure to collect and increase the sun’s heat. Solar drying, which reduces fuel cost, can be a sensible option for farmers, particularly when it assist or replaces mechanical driers.

Advantages of food solar driers

o they generate higher air temperatures and consequently lower humidity, which result in faster drying rates and lower final moisture contents

o the higher temperatures generated act as a deterrent to insect and mould growth

o the product is protected from dust and insects within the drier

o drying is quick and if racks are used, less land is needed for spreading the crop

o they offer a considerable degree of protection from rain, which reduces the need for labor to bring in the material

o they are comparatively cheap to build and do not require highly skilled labour

Types of solar driers

Direct solar driers

With such driers the air is heated in a box-like drying chamber, which acts both as the solar collector and the drier. One of the more popular types of direct solar drier is the ‘Brace’ type

named after the Brace Research Institute in Canada. The sun’s rays pass through the transparent drier roof, usually covered with plastic sheeting and heats up the space inside. The chamber should ideally be painted black to absorb the maximum amount of heat. The heated air then rises and leaves the chamber through a hole in the upper part of the back wall, being replaced by cold air entering through the entry hole in the drier’s base. An airflow is thus established which combined with the reduced humidity of the heated air, removes moisture from the product.

Indirect solar driers:

An indirect drier comprises two parts: a solar collector receiving the sun’s energy, which is connected to the drying chamber containing the crop. Air enters the collector where it is heated.

Its humidity is reduced and the hot air rises naturally to the drying chamber. The design of either type of drier must be adapted to suit local climatic conditions, the crops to be dried and available construction materials.

Factors to consider

Many solar drying projects may have failed because of lack of sufficient on-site climatic data.

It is very important to obtain information on seasonal variations of sunshine, humidity,

temperature, wind-speed and direction during the intended drying period.

If the crop is affected by exposure to direct sunlight, which can cause darkening, and loss of sensitive components such as vitamins it can be shaded in the drier. This is often achieved by suspending a sheet of black-painted roofing sheet above the foodstuff inside the drier. Some

driers, particularly of the indirect type incorporated large amounts of dark colored rocks in the collector. These after being heated in the sun all day continue to give off heat after nightfall and

thus the crop continues to dry.

Position of drier is critical

The angle of inclination or tilting of the drier roof or collector is critical in order to maximize the collection of the sun’s energy. The angle of the sun’s rays varies between summer and winter, so when building driers consideration must be given to the time of year when the crop is harvested.

The sitting of driers away from the shadow of trees out of strong winds might appear obvious but

is often overlooked. A windbreak can be used to prevent over-cooling or physical damage.

Technical limitations

Special plastic sheeting for use in solar driers is not available at village-level but polythene is generally found in towns. Polythene has a short life in solar driers due to yellowing and tearing. Newer plastics which are both stronger and stable in the heat of the sun are currently available

in a few African countries.

These films are considerably more expensive that polythene. If they are used, it is recommended that the collector cover be constructed in several small sections. Should any damage occur only one small piece will need replacing.

Unexpected rain can have quite disastrous impact on solar drying. The immediate effect is sudden cooling of the drier cover, often accompanied by it fogging-over because of consideration. This brings the flow to a halt. It can be some time before the drier begins to work again once the sun returns. Cheap, portable thatched drier-cover have been used handily for placing quickly over the drier at the first sign of ran to reduce the impact of rainfall.

It can be noted that while solar drying at first appears to be a simple technology, the reverse is true. Not only should ay considerations such as latitude, harvest period, local climate and the type of crop be taken into account, but also the complex cultural and economic conditions of the women who use the technology.

Key to Success

A large amount of research and development is taking place. Despite this, the application of solar drying technologies in local production has been poor. In many cases, the technical specialists have not sufficiently involved extension workers and women processors in field-testing and adaptation of these technologies, resulting in many failed projects. However, when local people are closely involved with those supporting them then small solar driers can work and form the basis of viable production.

Acknowledgement: Material adapted from a source book prepared by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) in collaboration with Intermediate Technology Development Group in recognition of women’s special roles in food production and preservation activities.

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Tea \ coffee Break