baobab issue on organic farming

8/10/2019 Baobab Issue on Organic Farming

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Family FarmersFeeding the World

Family FarmersFeeding the World

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EDITORIAL

Ushering the InternationalYear of Family Farming

ISSN: 0966-9035Baobab is published four times a year. It is a magazine onsmall-scale sustainable agriculture which is the East Africanedition of the AgriCultures Network global magazines.

Editorial BoardJames NguoAnthony Mugo - Editor in ChiefNoah LusakaSamuel Mwangi

Editorial CoordinatorEsther Lungahi

IllustrationsShadrack Melly

Cover Photo byGerald Cosmas Yongo-ALIN

Layout and Design

Conrad Mudibo - Ecomedia Ltd.Important NoticesCopyrightArticles, pictures and illustrations from Baobabmay beadapted for use in materials that are development oriented,provided the materials are distributed free of charge andALIN and the author(s) are credited.

Copies of the samples should be sent to ALIN.

DisclaimerOpinions and views expressed in the letters and articlesdo not necessarily reflect the views of the editors or ALIN.Technical information supplied should be cross-checked as

thoroughly as possible as ALIN cannot acceptresponsibility should any problems occur.

Regional Editions1. Farming Matters global edition by ILEIA2. LEISA REVISTA de Agroecologia, Latin America editionby Asociacion ETC andes.3. LEISA India, by AME Foundation4. AGRIDAPE, French West African edition by IED Afrique5. Agriculture, experiences em Agroecologia, the Brazilianedition by AS-PTA6. Chinese edition by CBIK

Talk to usThe Baobab magazineArid Lands Information Network, ALINP. O. Box 10098, 00100 GPO, Nairobi, KenyaAAYMCA Building, 3rd floor, Along State House Crescent,Off State House Avenue, NairobiTel. +254 20 2629761 Telefax. +254 20 2629762Cell: +254 728 606916E-mail: [email protected] Or visit us at www.alin.netFollow us on Social Media: Facebook page;Baobab Alin: Twitter @BaobabMagazine and @Alin_3Point0

About ALINArid Lands Information Network (ALIN) is an NGO thatfacilitates information and knowledge exchange to andbetween extension workers or infomediaries and arid landscommunities in the East Africa region. The informationexchange activities focus on small-scale sustainableagriculture, climate change adaptation, natural resourcesmanagement and other livelihood issues.

Family farming, which involves all family members working and earningtheir living and producing their food on a family farm, will be the keyfocus of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) throughout

2014. FAO launched the International Year of Family Farming (IYFF) onNovember 22, 2013 in New York. The aim of the IYFF, which is the themeof this issue of Baobab, is to reposition family farming at the centre ofagricultural, environmental and social policies in the national agendas, byidentifying gaps and opportunities to promote a shift towards a more equal andbalanced development.

According to FAO, family farming i s a means of organizing agricultural,forestry, fisheries, pastoral and aquaculture production which is managed andoperated by a family and predominantly reliant on family labour, includingboth womens and mens.

In the Theme Overview, Jan Douwe van der Ploeg identifies ten qualitiesthat distinguish family farming from small scale farming and other types offarming enterprises that have become the norm in most of the developedworld. He particularly notes that family farming is much more than is impliedby the two words: family and farming. According to him, it is a multi-

layered phenomenon that enables productivity of food and perpetuationof family traditions and community cultures to be in harmony with thenatural environment. He identifies indigenous knowledge accumulated overgenerations as one of the most essential ingredient that enables family farmingto thrive.

We have included examples of the role that family farming is playing insupporting agricultural production, conservation of biodiversity and enhancingresilience of rural communities in various African countries including Kenya,Uganda and Cameroon.

In an interview with the Director of Kenya Institute of Organic Farming(KIOF) John Njoroge, it emerges that organic farming is actually the originalform of family farming where all farm inputs are derived from the farm itself.Traditional agriculture promoted practices that facilitate efficient circulationof plant and animal nutrients to create farming systems that remain productive

indefinitely.As ALIN, we plan to remain at the centre of activities around IYFF particularlyusing Baobab as the primary platform for disseminating key IYFF messagesthroughout 2014. In this issue, we have carried the announcement of the IYFFPhoto Competition. We invite our readers to participate and help to achievethe competitions aim, which is: to visualize the potential and contributionsof family farmers worldwide. It is an initiative of the AgriCultures Network, ofwhich ALIN is a member and the World Rural Forum, in close collaborationwith the Asian Farmers Association, CLOC/La Via Campesina and the Moreand Better Network.

We welcome comments and opinions about what needs to be done to makefamily farming better recognized and more rewarding. Finally, we take thisopportunity to wish our readers a Happy 2014 and a meaningful IYFF.

James NguoRegional Director

Baobab| December 2013 | 2


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CONTENTS

05THEME OVERVIEWen Qualities of Family Farming

09PROJECT FOCUSTe Role of Education in Enhancing Seed Security for FamilyFarmers

12OPEN COLUMNSeasonal Climate Forecasts Help Improve Productivity of FamilyFarms

15 Wild Living Resources23 Small Scale Farmers, Big Scale Change

30 Strengthening Family Farmers > Dialogue and

Collaboration

20ON THE SUBJECT OFOrganic Farming: A Preferred Approach

28GUEST COLUMNPollinators Benefits for Family Farmers and Nature

AND MORE

17 Photo Competition: Visualizing the potentialand contributions of family farmers worldwide

18 Stork Story

26 Technical Note: Steps in Establishing an Organic Farm

33 Watering Baobab

34 Call for Articles

35 Resources



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Baobabwelcomes comments, ideas and suggestionsfrom its readers. Please contact us via e-mail at

[email protected] or write to P. O. Box 10098, 00100GPO, Nairobi, Kenya.

I would like to subscribe to theBaobab magazine.Kindly send methe subscription costs includingpostage to Tanzania.

My firm is engaged in providingcapacity building services to

local small farmers in Tanzania,East Africa. I believe that, bysubscribing to your publication,I shall get access to knowledgeand exposure about sustainableagriculture in the East AfricaRegion.

I heard about your publicationfrom a friend who was studying inKenya. I shall be glad to receivecopies of the magazine.

Lucas P. Kusare, Tanzania. East Africa

Thank you for the interest inour publication.Baobabis onlyavailable in electronic formatfor now. Visit http://alin.net/Baobab%20Magazineto downloada copy and also to access pastissues.

Editor

Thank you very much for the lastissue of Baobab which featuredthe work of FADECO Radio inTanzania.The radio has helpedus bridge the gap of agriculturalextension, bringing timelyinformation to the farmers onmarket prices, weather updatesand technical notes from extensionworkers. We hope to continueoffering same services integratingwith new media tools on socialnetworking like Facebook.

Joseph Sekiku, Tanzania

FROMOURREADERS

Published by Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN), an international NGObased in Nairobi, Baobab is well established magazine that focuses of small scalesustainable agriculture. It has been published since 1988. It covers Kenya, Ugandaand Tanzania and all aspects of the agriculture value chain. It is also disseminatedto a range of local, regional and global agriculture networks.

Attractive, modern feelArticles are simplified and well illustrated. It is published in glossy high qualitypaper with a catchy modern layout.

To book space, contact: BaobabMagazine, Arid Lands Information Network

(ALIN) P. O. Box 10098 00100, NAIROBI, KenyaTel: +254 (20) 2629762 E-mail: [email protected]

I am an aspiring rabbit farmerliving in Kisumu County witha lot of interest in doing rabbitkeeping as a business. I wouldlike to request your advice onthe best rabbit breeds that can dowell in this part of the country,

rabbit feeds, rabbit housing,disease and parasites control. Ihope this venture will empowerme as a youth and I will be able toinfluence other youths in my areato start farming.

Paul Awiti, Kenya

Thank you for your inquiry.Baobab issue 67 featured anarticle on rabbit keeping onPg 8 http://alin.net/i/Issue%20067---Alternative%20markets%20

for%20improved%20livelihoods,please read through to get sometips on rabbit farming. Moreinformation on rabbit keeping canbe found at http://sokopepe.co.ke/

content/rabbit-farmingOR http://www.infonet-biovision.org/default/ct/275/livestockSpecies

Editor

Centre for Literacy & CommunityDevelopment is a national NGO

operating in Western Kenya.Could you please subscribe us tothe following magazines: Baobab,KEAand JotoAfrika. We would liketo use the information from yourvery informative publications.

F.H. Ngesso, Kisumu

Thanks for the interest in ourpublications we hope you willfind them useful.Baobab is onlyavailable in electronic formatfor now. Visit http://alin.net/Baobab%20Magazineto downloada copy and also to access pastissues. For Joto Afrikavisit http://alin.net/Joto%20Afrika.We nolonger produce KEA.

Editor



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THEMEOVERVIEW

Ten Qualities of Family Farming

Even in the International Year of Family Farming there is confusion about

family farming: what is it actually, what makes it unique, and what

distinguishes it from entrepreneurial farming or family agribusiness?

Confusion tends to be highest in places where modernisation of agriculture

has led society further away from farming. At the start of the International Year of

Family Farming, Farming Matters aims to create some conceptual clarity. Jan Douwe

van der Ploeg takes us into the world of family farming, which is considered both

archaic and anarchic, and attractive and seductive.

By Jan Douwe van der Ploeg

What is family farming?Family farming is one of those phenomena that Western societiesfind increasingly difficult to understand. This is due to many reasons. One of these is that family farming isat odds with the bureaucratic logic, formalised protocols and industrial rationale that increasingly dominateour societies. This makes family farming into something that is seen, on the one hand, as both archaic and

anarchic, whilst at the same time it emerges as something attractive and seductive.

GeraldCosmasYongo-ALIN



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Family farming is also difficult to grasp andunderstand because it is, essentially, a complex,multi-layered and multi-dimensional phenomenon.Below, I identify ten qualities of family farming.These qualities are not always present at the sametime in each singular situation. The most importantthing to remember is that the reality of family farms

is far richer than the two single aspects that are mostcommonly used to describe them: that the farm isowned by the family and that the work is done byfamily members.

Family farming is not just about the size of the farm,as when we talk about small scale farming, it is moreabout the way people farm and live. This is why

family farming is a way of life.

A balance of farm and familyLets start take a closer look at the ten qualities.Indeed, thefarming family has control over themain resources (1)that are used in the farm. Thisincludes the land, but also the animals, the crops, the

genetic material, the house, buildings, machinery and,in a more general sense, the know-how that specifieshow to combine and use all these resources. Access tonetworks and markets, as well as co-ownership of co-operatives, equally represent important resources.

Family farmers use these resources not to make a

profit, but to make a living; to acquire an incomethat provides them with a decent life and, if possible,allows for investments in order to develop the farmfurther. This applies even if the farm uses expensivemachinery or irrigation systems and terraces that thefarmers themselves have constructed.

Then indeed the family farm is the place where thefamily provides the main part of the labour force (2).This makes the farm into a place of self-employmentand of progress for the family. It is through theirdedication, passion and hard work that the farm isdeveloped further and the livelihood of the family is

improved.



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Why is it important?Family farmingcarries the promise to create agricultural practicesthat are highly productive, sustainable, receptive,responsive, innovative and dynamic. Given all thesefeatures, family farming may strongly contributeto food security and food sovereignty. In a varietyof ways, it can strengthen economic development,creating employment and generating income. Itoffers large parts of society attractive jobs and maycontribute considerably to the emancipation ofdowntrodden groups in society. Family farming mayalso consistently contribute to the maintenance ofbeautiful landscapes and biodiversity.

External threatsHowever, it may turnout to be impossible to effectively realize all thesepromises. This is the case especially today, when

family farming is squeezed and impoverished tothe bones. When prices are low, costs are high andvolatility excludes any possibility for long termplanning, and when access to markets is increasinglyblocked and agricultural policies neglect familyfarmers, and when land and water are increasinglygrabbed by large capital groups yes, in thesecircumstances we see that it turns out to be impossiblefor family farmers to render positive contributions tothe wider society. This is why we have now ended upin the dramatic situation that land of family farmers islaying idle. Or, to use a macro indicator, that 70% ofthe poor in this world today, are rural people.

Internal threatsThere are internal threatsas well. Nowadays it is en vogueto talk about the needto make family farming more business-like. It shouldbe oriented towards making profits. Some evenargue that this would be the only way to keep youngpeople in agriculture. In short: family farming shouldbecome less peasant-like and more entrepreneurial.According to this viewpoint, family farming in theGlobal South should be subject to a similar process ofmodernisation as occurred in the North.

Indeed, part of European agriculture has changedtowards entrepreneurial farming. This turns thefamily farm into a mere supplier of labour, forgettingabout all other features mentioned above. Formallythese entrepreneurial farms are still family farms,but substantially they are quite different. One majordifference is that real family farms especially growand develop through clever management of natural,economic and human resources, and through(intergenerational) learning. Entrepreneurial farmsespecially grow through taking overother family

farms. This tendency to enter into entrepreneurialtrajectories is a major internal threat to the continuityand dominance of family farms. And we see it nearly

everywhere.

Re-peasantisationThere are importantcounter-tendencies as well. Many family farmsstrengthen their position and their income, forexample by following agro-ecological principles, byengaging in new activities, and by producing newproducts and new services often distributed throughnew, nested markets. Analytically these new strategiesare defined as forms of re-peasantisation. They makefarming more peasant-like again, but at the same timethey strengthen the family farm. Re-peasantisationequals defending and strengthening family farming.

What is to be done?Policy can be,and is, extremely important for the fate of familyfarming. Although family farming can survive highlyadverse conditions, positive conditions can helpfamily farming reach its full potential. Precisely hereresides the enormous responsibility of policy, that is,of state apparatuses, multinational forums (like theFAO, IFAD and other UN organisations), but also ofpolitical parties, social movements and civil society asa whole.

By securing rights and by investing in infrastructure,research and extension, education, market channels,

social security, health and many other aspects,investments of family farmers themselves can betriggered. This was recently confirmed again by theprestigious High Level Panel of Expertson FoodSecurity and Nutrition.

Strengthening rural organisations and movementsis equally of utmost importance. We have to keep inmind that family farmers, wherever in this world, aretrying to find and unfold new responses to difficultsituations. Thus, identifying successful responses,building on novel practices, communicating them to

other places and other family farmers and interlinkingthem into strong processes of change must beimportant items on our agenda. In short: a lot is to bedone. The good news, though, is that including every

little step, is helpful.

Jan Douwe van der Ploeg is professor of Rural Sociology atWageningen University and at China Agricultural Universityin BeijingContact: [email protected] www.

jandouwevanderploeg.com



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Seed availability is a crucial element in thelivelihoods of agricultural communities especiallyin rural Kenya. Seed security - availability in

sufficient quantities at the right quality and at affordableprices - is a key determinant of agricultural output.

Unfortunately, Kenya still experiences shortage ofquality seeds especially for legumes and other cropsmore suited for ASALs. In addition, these seeds remaininaccessible to the majority smallholder farmingcommunities who depend on farmer-saved seed of localindigenous/traditional varieties characterized by highadaptability and acceptability but also low yields andsusceptibility to pests and diseases.

Given the prevailing weather patterns brought aboutby climate change, there is an increasing demand fordrought tolerant crops (DTCs) to meet food securitychallenges. This presents an opportunity for smallholderfarmers to engage in market-led commercial seedproduction of selected DTCs varieties.

Kitui Development Centre (KDC) was partlyestablished to respond to this opportunity and tosupport farmers to access quality seeds in sufficientquantities. KDCs broad aim is to improve householdand food security in Kitui. It supports grassroots-basedgroups to implement activities aimed at improvingfood security. Already four seed producer groups forgreen grams in Thitani and Nguutani locations ofMigwani District have been identified and mobilized

with an average membership of 25 individuals pergroup. A demonstration plot of 0.5 acres has beenestablished by the Seed Producer Groups (SPGs)where 8kgs of green grams have been planted in thedemonstration plot owned by Wendo Farmers SPG

in Kakululo, Migwani District. It acts as a seed supplyand learning centre.

The project is also supporting households inproduction and bulking of cassava, green gramsand pigeon peas while developing sustainable seeddistribution channels that are community led. Greengrams are described as a food security crop. It is moresuitable in the ASAL regions of Eastern Kenya owingto its capacity to flourish in zones that receive minimalrainfall throughout the year.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries

technical expertise has been very crucial in buildingthe capacity of the farmer groups. Extension agentsfrom the District Headquarters make constant visits,training and carrying out monitoring together withproject officers from KDC. Their interaction withfarmers is bearing fruit. They use informal adulteducation approaches such as use of posters, locallanguages and illustrations to pass information aboutimproved technologies. The Ministry providesrelevant information material including pamphletsand booklets with some translated into the localdialects.

The Role of Education in

Enhancing Seed Security forFamily FarmersAgricultural growth and development is crucial for Kenyas overall economic and

social development. 80 per cent of the rural population in Kenya relies on agriculture

as the primary source of livelihood. The Government acknowledges that increased

agricultural productivity is dependent on the adoption of appropriate practices and

technologies, including access to improved seeds. According to the National Seed

Policy (2010), appropriate seeds need to be availed for all agro-ecological zones

including the arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs).

By Mutetei Mutisya

PROJECTFOCUS



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The Divisional Agricultural Extension Officerof Nguutani Division, Mr. Joseph Nthenge,acknowledges the importance of educatingfarmers. He explains that Ministry is advocatingfor commercial villages mode of farming

and farming as a business. This is to ensurethat all smallholder farmers are food secureand that they produce enough food for theirconsumption and for sale. The Project isencouraging farmers to market their producecollectively to avoid exploitation by middlemen.Farmers are taken through the entire valuechain process - from the seed selectionto planting, tending and harvesting usingdemonstration plots.

Farmer training is undertaken through locally

organised farmer field days and exchange visitsacross the two locations. This is combined withonsite training during the actual demonstrationand classroom informal discussions are carriedout. Classroom discussions are customizedlearning programs that happen once everymonth for a period of 2-3 days to deal withtopical issues concerning drought tolerant crops.

So far, 80 farmers from the participatingSPGs have been trained on good agriculturalpractices including: seed selection and bulkingtechniques; drought tolerant crops that are

viable in the area; land preparation; weeding;pest and disease control; and post-harvesttechniques. Issues of farming as a business havebeen introduced. Other areas have includedgender mainstreaming and HIV/AIDS whichhave been discussed as cross cutting issues.

Mr. Nthenge says that NDC is able to linkwith other key stakeholders from other sectorsto ensure that Vision 2030 and other keygovernment policies concerning agriculture arefulfilled within Kitui County and the countryas a whole. The farmers now plant with moreprudence as opposed to how they used to do itbefore says Mr. Nthenge adding that farmersare gaining better produce from their farmsand that some even act as trainers of trainers to

neighboring farmers.

Mutetei Mutisya works for Kitui Development Centreas a Monitoring, Evaluation and CommunicationsOfficer, he can be reached through; [email protected]

KituiDevelopmentCentre



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According to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD),

productivity of principal staple foods in Sub Saharan African countries over the

past 20 to 30 years is only delivering about one third to a half of its potential yield.

This has been attributed to poor farm management practices, such as application

of inappropriate farm inputs, poorly informed planting times and use of ill-chosen

seeds. These are all linked to limited access to relevant climate information. However,

in Kenya; the situation is set to change over the coming seasons because farmers will

get tailored and locally relevant seasonal forecasts from the Kenya Meteorological

Services (KMS) through the recently appointed County Directors of Meteorological

Services (CDMSs)

By Jessica Aywa Omukuti

Seasonal Climate ForecastsHelp Improve Productivity ofFamily Farms

OPENCOLUMN

ALP

JosephNdiritu2013



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With the posting of the 47 CDMSs in thenew devolved system of administrationin Kenya, coupled with the current need

and opportunity to improve the quality of climateinformation available within the counties, KMS seeksto improve its role as a key service provider for locallyapplicable climate information and forecast productswhich can inform local development and economicdecision making.

The KMS Assistant Director, Mr. Ayub Shaka,observed that despite each seasons forecast beingproduced, the information has been underutilizedby the target users, most of whom are family farmers.They were unable to fully understand the forecasts,due to the technical language used; broadcast methodand limited consultation on the community needs.This had resulted into farmers making misguideddecisions leading to losses and low productivity.

Before they were deployed to counties, the CDMSswere trained on disseminating weather informationin better formats to facilitate its use. The CDMSstraining should contribute to the improved utility

of weather information because they have bettercommunication skills.

The trainingThe training was financedjointly by CARE and the Kenya MeteorologicalDepartment (KMD). It was geared towards enhancingthe participants capacities to:

a. Better communicate seasonal forecasts and subseasonal updates to end users.

b. Build on indigenous climate knowledge to jointlycreate information that can be useful and used bythe communities.

c. Understand and respond to the climateinformation needs of users, especially farmers atcounty level.

The Participatory ScenarioPlanning workshopsThe workshopsare held at the beginning of each of the two rainfallseasons. According to Mr. Joseph Machaka of CAREsAdaptation Learning Program (ALP), the workshopsbring together meteorological officers, communitymembers, government department representatives,civil society actors at the community level and theprivate sector. The meteorological and communityforecasts are presented, interpreted and discussedin the context of each possible occurrence and itsimplications on livelihoods and activities in thecounty. Action plans are made in preparation for anyof the possibilities. The plans, known as advisories, are

then disseminated to the other county members forimplementation during the season.

Planning and innovationCollaborative planning occurs when stakeholdersmake plans that are in line with the needs of thecommunities. For example, in Garissa, planswere made collectively with agro-pastoralists andpastoralists .If the season is forecasted to have belownormal to normal rainfall, the farmers, with the helpof the extension service providers discuss optionsof what crops would do well under the forecastedclimate while keeping in mind the uncertainty of theforecasts.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheriesthen makes available the agreed seeds and inputs. Theability to plan ahead enables the family farmers tobe prepared for any of the occurrences in the season,which in turn reduces their risk of losses.

The dissemination of climate information in aprobabilistic form promotes innovation since itenables the farmers to understand the uncertainty thatis contained in forecasts. They therefore make planswith the understanding that the forecast events have



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a certain likelihood of occurring. This encouragesflexibility since the users are open to a wide range of

options, including new agricultural practices.

Climate information in use NoorJelle, an agro-pastoralist from Garissa is among thebeneficiaries from these workshops. We have beenreceiving information on rainfall and temperatureforecasts for the coming seasons. The information iscommunicated in our local language, which is easierto understand. As a result, we have had minimal lossesduring harvesting periods since we know how better tostore and preserve our produce during extreme climateevents such as floods and droughts, he says.

The CDMSs have collectively organised andfacilitated three other workshops in Kakamega,Machakos and Embu. In all these workshops, theCDMSs disseminated climate information that was

relevant to each of the countys livelihood activities.Participants obtained technical advice from variousgovernment departments. They also met providersof agro-veterinary services and seed suppliers. Thefarmer-to-farmer sharing of farming experiences thatoccurred during and after the workshops, togetherwith the information acquired from the CDMSsand extension officers, has encouraged informedagricultural decision making, which contributetowards improved farm productivity.

Although such concrete measures are essential,climate change is continuous and unpredictable.Adaptive capacity to make informed and flexibledecisions for action is becoming even more importantto ensure resilience to climate change impacts.Communicating climate information, in ways thatusers can understand and apply is therefore a critical

resource to support effective adaptation to climatechange.

CAREs Adaptation Learning Program hasbeen operational in Kenya since 2010 withthe project communities being in Garissa. Itaims at increasing the ability of communitiesto adapt through processes that are focusedon the communities that are most vulnerableto climate change, based on the premise ofunderstanding how climate change will affectthe local environment and the communitys

assets and capacities. One of the approachesused is climate information communication

Jessica Aywa Omukuti works with CARE InternationalAdaptation Learning Program (ALP). She can be reachedthrough [email protected]

ALP

Joseph

Ndiritu2013



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Wild Living ResourcesA community approach to sustainable use of trees and livelihood

diversificationAn expanding and increasingly land-hungry human population is driving the

continued settlement (and clearing) of Kenyas semi-arid and agriculturally marginal

lands where livelihoods are becoming less resilient. Frequent droughts and

inadequate government infrastructure exacerbate the problem.

By Robert Wagner

OPENCOLUMN

ValerieOutram



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T

he World Bank classifies the majority of ruralKenyans as living below the poverty line.

Without greater investment from both publicand private sectors to support creating dependableemployment and incomes the situation will onlyworsen with rural subsistence farmers and herdersfacing a continuing cycle of poverty and dependenceon aid.

Kenyas semi-arid range lands, however, host aremarkable diversity of natural resources. If they areintegrally linked to peoples livelihoods, habitat andwildlife will be conserved, not only safeguardingbiodiversity for future generations but also protectingwater catchments and combating soil erosion anddesertification -- essential for the continued viability ofagriculture and livestock production in these areas.

Wild Living Resources Business Parkis a practicaland commercially viable working model of integratedland use that has realistic potential to create tangiblelivelihood opportunities whilst conserving thenatural resource base. The Business Park providesdemonstration, the first of its kind in Eastern Africa,and a practical in-situ training facility for the capacitybuilding of rural communities, and public and privatesector support agencies. Located on 130 acres of

indigenous forest shrub (donated by Kilifi PlantationsLtd, Kenya for the establishment of a communitybased natural resource management initiative) thebusiness park acts as a model for the fully workingintegrated demonstration of six (soon to be eleven)natural resource use and livelihood options. Theseare Eco charcoal processing, East African Wild LeafyVegetables, East African Wild Mushrooms, EastAfrican Aloe, East African Herbals and Good Woods.

East African Medicinal: The demand for medicinaland traditional herbal medicine continues throughoutEast Africa, particularly in areas with little or noaccess to medical care. However, the continued useexerts extraneous pressure on natural resources as

medicinal harvesters compete for material sourcedmainly from the wild. Such intense harvesting of

material has not only increased the prices of rawmedicinal material but has also resulted in theincreasing use of unsustainable harvesting techniques.This has led to declining populations of medicinaltree and shrub species, further diminishing naturalresources, deforestation and a threat to preservingvaluable indigenous knowledge related to the use ofmedicinal as a primary health care source.

Wild Living Resources is providing the firstsustainable harvesting model for livelihoods,healthcare and biodiversity conservation in East

Africa.Located on the Wild Living Resourcesbusiness park, some 160 species of medicinal speciesare being sustainably harvested, processed andsupplied into the Kenyan commercial herbal clinicmarket. The Ufanisi Herbal Community BasedOrganisation is a partner of Wild Living Resourcesto disseminate practical skills and knowledge forsustainable use of medicinal. Harvesters of medicinalmaterial are provided with training through practicaldemonstrations on sustainable harvesting techniques,improving the quality of material harvested and invalue addition (processing) for end products for theherbal market. Certified single species herbals are

purchased and marketed into the local commercialherbal clinic sector.

This initiative now provides herbalists (traditionalmedicine practitioners)access to a sustainable supplyof raw medicinal product - safeguarding not only theconservation of the natural resource it relies upon butalso the continued viability of an important source ofhealthcare in Kenya, with potential to improve theincome generated and livelihoods derived from these

activities.

Contact info: Wild Living Resources; P.O Box 974, Kilifi,

80108, Kenya; Mobile: 0728608618/0736484317;Web: http://www.wildlivingresources.org

RWagner



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The International Year of Family Farming (IYFF)highlights the decisive role of family farming in thesustainable production of 80% of the worlds food and inthe conservation of ecosystems and biodiversity. The IYFF-

2014 Photo Competitioncollects visual expressions tobuild stronger recognition and support for family farming,and encourage broad participation in the IYFF.

The IYFF-2014 Photo Competitionis calling for photosthat represent the motto: Family Farming: Feeding theworld, caring for the earth.

Entries must visualize the strength, potential andchallenges of sustainable, multifunctional family farmersworldwide, in all their diversity and contexts.

A jury consisting of Angle Etoundi, Bernward Geier, S.Jayaraj, Toms Munita, Deo Sumaj and Jun Virola willchoose the winning photos. The deadline for entries is 1May 2014, but we appreciate receiving photos earlier. The

winning photos will be announced in October 2014.

The photo competition is an initiative of the AgriCulturesNetwork and the World Rural Forum, in closecollaboration with the Asian Farmers Association, CLOC/La Via Campesina and the More and Better Network.

Read more and submit your photo atwww.agriculturesnetwork.org/photocompetition

Visualizing the potentialand contributions of family farmers worldwide

Sokopepe(Swahili for virtual market) is an agricultural commoditytrading platform that links small scale producers to end retailers orbulk purchasers (www.sokopepe.co.ke). Sokopepeis accessible online

and on mobile phones.

Through the mobile short code 20245users can register to usethe system from anywhere.

Where producers meet buyers

Commodities prices Farm inputs

Service providers Farming and livestock tips

Secure mobile payment solutions

To Register

Send SMS to 20245REG#IDNumber#FirstName#LastName#CountyWait for confirmation message to activate youraccount.

To check the price of a commodity

Send Price#Commodity#Town, send SMS to20245

Example Price#Maize#Nakuru

To get farming tips

Send SMS Tip#ProductName to20245

Example Tip#maize

Through the computer or internet linkedmobile device go to:www.sokopepe.co.ke, click on Registerand follow the prompts.

Sokopepe Services

SMS

20245

In case of any queries E-mail:[email protected]

Contact ALIN: Tel: +254 20 2629762 Mobile: +254 728 606916

PHOTO

COMPETI

TION



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STORKSTORY

FAMILY FARMING



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Organic Farming:

ONTHESUBJECTOF



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A Preferred ApproachAnthony Mugo interviewed John

Njoroge, Director, Kenya Institute of

Organic Farming (KIOF), on the benefits

family farmers derive from adopting

organic farming.

What is KIOF?Kenya Institute of OrganicFarming (KIOF) emerged from an initiativebegan by myself and some of my peers back in1986. We had worked with farmers and realisedthat conventional farming was becoming veryexpensive because of increasing cost of externalinputs. At the same time, use of chemical inputswas compromising both the food and nutritionalsecurity of farmers. We began posing two questionsto farmers we would meet through churches andfarmers groups. The first one was:Are you awarethat chemical inputs you buy from the shop haveharmful effects on your farm and on you?The secondwas:Are you aware that there are good alternatives?Answers to both questions were almost always inthe negative. This pointed to a need for a sustainedinitiative to raise awareness among farmers aboutthe benefits organic farming. That became the

genesis of KIOF.

What is organic farming?Farmingthat relies on natural inputs and excludes syntheticinputs. It sustains crops and animals the way naturesdoes, ensuring the conservation of organic matter,encouraging its natural decomposition to releaseplants nutrients and creating sustainable nutrientcycling systems that remain productive indefinitely.It relies solely on crop residue and animal waste. Itis made more efficient by use of modern methodsof increasing the quality of humus (decaying plantmatter) through composting.

TonyKimathiALIN2013



22/36

Why should family farmers usethe organic approach?

When family farmers use conventional agriculture

that relies on chemical inputs: fertilizer, pesticides,herbicides and preservatives, these chemical formresidues that have harmful effects on the soil. Theyalso poison other living things that are necessary inensuring a good balance in the farming ecosystem.Among these are pollinators such as bees andbutterflies and other creatures which prey on plantpests such bats and chameleons. Farmers soon realisethat the soil cannot produce as much as it did beforethe use of chemicals was introduced. Yet the cost ofchemical inputs is very high. In the end, many familyfarmers cannot afford them leading to a situationwhere they are trapped in a poverty cycle. Organic

farming on the other hand relies on inputs alreadypresent on the farm hence the cost of production isvery low. By eliminating use of chemicals, soil healthis restored resulting in healthier crops and animalproducts.

Which approaches should beused to ensure that the organicfarming system is sustainable?

There are two practices that are recommended

in order to ensure the sustainability of an organicfarming system namely: crop rotation and mixedcropping. Crop rotation involves growing differentcrops in each season. Changing the crop seasonallybrings in new predators which eliminate pests thatmay have accumulated during the previous croppingseason. It also leads to accumulation of nutrientsin the soil while enriching the variety of naturalpredators for common pests.

Mixed cropping on the other hand increases thediversity of plants on the farm improving the nutritionstatus of the soil. A recommended practice is to mixnitrogen fixing legumes with cereal crops. The resultis a wider range of nutritious crops for the familyfarmer ensuring that the familys nutritional needsare met in terms of carbohydrates, proteins, vitaminsand even medicinal crops. The variety of crops onan organic farm is good measure of the sustainabilityof the farming system. You might recall that this wasalways the case in many traditional communities.A visitor to a farm was always given somethingharvested from the farm irrespective of the season.With conventional agriculture, many family farmsgo for months without crops due to mono-cropping.

The rearing of farm animals is also encouraged on

organic farms because their waste forms a rich sourceof organic fertiliser. Animal waste is a good source ofclean energy such as biogas.

Is it possible to convert a farmfrom the conventional to theorganic approach?

It is possible and many farmers have managed convertfrom conventional to organic farming. However,the process requires a minimum of three years. Thestarting point is to ensure that the farmer familiarisesthemselves with the existing standards for the marketwhere they plan to sell their organic produce. InKenya, the standards are set by the Kenya Bureauof Standard (KEBS). Although different countries

have their own standards, most of them conform tothe standards set by the international Federation ofOrganic Agriculture Movement (IFOAM).

The next step is to apply for certification in order tobe able to sell the produce in the preferred market.Upon application, the farm has to be inspected bycertifying agents or their representatives. Inspectorsare independent and they often do random inspectionmainly to ensure that the farm cannot be contaminatedby neighbouring conventional farm. This requiresestablishment of buffer zones around the perimeter ofthe organic farm. Buffering involves the establishment

of cut-off drains, hedges and strips of bush to isolatethe farm. It is an expensive process both in terms oftime and financial resources. Because of this, certifiedorganic products are always sold at a premium. Oncefull conversion has been achieved, the produce shouldbe labelled and a copy of the certificate attached givingthe contact details of the farm.

What would you say have beenthe achievements of KIOF?

The organisation pioneered the education of organic

farmers in Kenya in 1986. Another milestone wasto help in the establishment of the Kenya OrganicAgriculture Network (KOAN) in 2004. KOAN isthe national coordinating body for marketing agentsinvolved in organic farming in Kenya. KOANsubsequently became the reference point for theestablishment of organic farming networks in Uganda,Ethiopia, Somalia, Rwanda and Burundi. Manyorganic farmers from those countries have beentrained at KIOF.

John Njoroge is the Director of Kenya Institute of OrganicFarmers (KIOF) he can be reached through [email protected]

Anthony Mugo is the Deputy Director of ALIN. E-mail:

[email protected].



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BIG-SCALE

this problem. Farmers, NGOs and government jointlyrolled out an effective strategy to widely spread the useof Non-Pesticidal Management (NPM).

Non-Pesticidal ManagementA radical change was needed: the first step in stoppingpests is to stop using pesticides and adopt integratedcropping systems and local resource-based practices.CSA works with family farmers, building on theirknowledge, to make this change happen. NPM wasdeveloped during the early 1980s and has proven to beeffective in different parts of the state. The basic phi-losophy behind NPM is to train farmers to better un-derstand insect biology and behaviour and the cropecosystem, building on their own knowledge and skills.

For family farmers, who live on their land and havea close relationship with all the crops they cultivate,NPM is a logical strategy. Their physical proximity to

AGROBIODIVERSITY@KNOWLEDGED

The organisations working together in the AgriculturalBiodiversity Knowledge Programme (agrobiodiversity@knowledged) initiated by Oxfam Novib and Hivos all work withfamily farmers who make a living by using, conserving andregenerating the agricultural biodiversity they have as a base.The possibility of reversing high dependence on agrichemicalinputs on a large scale, particularly among family farmers whowork in close-knit networks, is illustrated by the experiencesof the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture (CSA) in AndhraPradesh, India.Zakir Hussain, G.V. Ramanjaneyulu, G. Rajashekar and G. Chandra Sekhar

CHANGE

Small-scalefarmers,

S

mall-scale family farmers in AndhraPradesh constitute the vast majority offarmers in the state, and are facing adeep and protracted crisis. Over the past

eighteen years, more than 35,000farmers have committed suicide many

because of enormous debts due to heavy dependencieson expensive chemicals. Pests are an issue, all farmersagree on that. However, CSA realised that for manyfarmers, the main problem was not pests but theiraddiction to pesticides. Pesticides are expensive, areharmful to the health of farmers and their families,create ecological problems and, most importantly, donot solve the problem. The more pesticides you use,the more you disturb the ecosystem, and the worse thepest problem gets. Many family farmers in AndhraPradesh have experienced this firsthand. It becameclear that there was a pressing need for a solution to



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the land means that family farmers often have an inti-mate understanding of it and its workings. In additionfarming families are well aware of the hazards posedby exposure to these chemicals which can immedi-ately affect all family members, through the air, their

skin and their food.In 2004, CSA set up Farmer Field Schools in twelve

villages in Andhra Pradesh to help farmers developtheir knowledge about pest management. Family farm-ers learnt to understand their agro-ecosystems andplan their crop cycles accordingly. Today the pro-gramme covers about 11,000 villages.

Andhra Pradesh used to have the highest pesticideconsumption rate in India, but today it has one of thelowest. The villages that have given up chemical pesti-cides have not seen a pest outbreak in the last six years,and their yields have not decreased.

Different paths for scaling upIn development circles, one of the major questionsthat continuously arises is how to scale up best prac-tices. The enormous change in attitudes towards pesti-cides in Andhra Pradesh provides a good illustrationon how this can be done. By expanding, adapting orsustaining successful initiatives and the underlyingphilosophies, CSA has been able to reach many peo-ple in different places and over time. Instead of re-inventing the wheel, were-use the wheel and learnfrom the practice of inventing. Without this process, anumber of valuable experiences would remain scat-

tered as islands of success.

For family farmers, Non-Pesticidal Management is

a logical strategy. Photo: Mr Adinarayana

[section sponsored by the Oxfam Novib / Hivos Knowledge Programme]

Success stories can be scaled up in different ways.They can spread spontaneously, or projects can bedirectly replicated by NGOs or government, or be pro-pelled by grassroots movements spreading particularideas and methods wider. In CSAs experience, two

successful strategies for scaling up took place: collabo-ration between NGOs and the government, and scal-ing up by farmers themselves, as they adopt the con-cept of NPM and adapt it to their local conditions.

From farmer to farmer Punukula is asmall tribal village in Andhra Pradeshs Khammamdistrict, which has acted as a beacon of hope for all thedistressed farmers in the state. Punukula formallydeclared itself pesticide free in 2003. All of its farmersadopted alternative pest management strategies andbecame the navigators for a new development

paradigm. They developed a simple and affordablemethod of preventing pests, based on understandingthe pests life cycles, and have since become experts indisseminating this technology in their region. Theirsuccess was widely recorded in the media andconvinced the state Minister of Agriculture to scale upthe approach.

In this case, the state government became motivatedto scale up alternative farming practices after observ-ing that they were being successfully adopted by farm-ers. Yet it is also an illustration of a bottom-up scalingup strategy. The wide spread of NPM in the state canbe attributed to horizontal expansion from farmer to

farmer.

As people live and work on the land, farmersreadily share new knowledge within and betweencommunities. They understand other farmers situa-tions and can explain concepts and ideas in their ownlanguage. CSA enabled farmers to teach others intheir communities and beyond. The small and labour-intensive scale of most operations, the closely knit so-cial networks and the proximity to each others farmsmeans that this method works well in family farmingcommunities.

Women played a particularly important role in thisprocess, contributing to rapid change in hundreds of

The Agricultural Biodiversity KnowledgeProgramme (agrobiodiversity@knowledged) aimsto generate and share evidence and insightsthat will be of value for enhancing agriculturalbiodiversity. It aims to contribute to a change frommainstream high-input agricultural systems tobiodiverse systems that serve farmers and nature;that ensure food and nutrition security; and thatrespect people and their knowledge and choices.For more information contact Sarah Doornbos([email protected]).



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villages. Womens self-help groups were at the forefrontof the grassroots movement that took charge of theirfarming, built their own capacities and found a way outof the agrarian distress they had been experiencing.Women clearly understood the benefits of non-chemi-cal farming, which brought them economic, social andhealth benefits. As more and more womens groupsheard about this programme they began to demandthat it be initiated in their villages too, and convincedtheir men that chemicals are not needed for farming.

Rolling out NPM Often governmentsclaim that farmers are not interested in shifting away

from pesticide use. Yet the successful farmer-to-farmerspread of NPM in Andhra Pradesh provided hands-onexperience about the feasibility of scaling up NPM.Family farmers are ready to change, whether or notthe government is ready. Farmers take up new ap-proaches when they see and experience the lastingbenefits, even if such an approach is not supported bygovernment extension programmes. Fortunately in thecase of Andhra Pradesh, government departmentswere willing to support CSAs approach and eventu-ally established a scaling-up programme called Com-munity Managed Sustainable Agriculture.

The roll-out began with CSA piloting the pro-gramme with partner NGOs, after which the StateDepartment for Rural Development helped to furtherreplicate it. The success of this collaboration dependson the actors sharing similar or complementary objec-tives: CSAs goal to mainstream an alternative solutionto pesticide use overlapped well with governmentsaim to improve livelihoods through cost reduction infarming. Based on the lessons in Andhra Pradesh, thenational level Women Farmers Empowerment Pro-gramme has subsequently been implemented in sev-eral states across the country.

Joint ownership with the government has given theprogramme the potential for becoming more than an

island of success. The partnership with the state gov-ernment has expanded the programmes reach and hasinfluenced policy at a state and national level. Thestate government has also benefitted from tapping intothe expertise of NGOs, who act as innovators, develop-ing and testing solutions, whereas governments areoften tied to established procedures and often unwill-ing to take risks or adopt innovative approaches. Suchcollaboration requires trust and mutual acknowledge-ment between the partners involved, in order to dispelfears of being co-opted or one party having exclusivecontrol.

Effective upscaling: the clue tosustainability The sustainability of anyfarming practice or innovation might be judged basedon the potential for scaling up of that practice. Manythousands of farmers have reported that ecologicalpractices for managing pests, diseases and soilproductivity are effective and successful. There is awealth of evidence about how this model is economi-cally viable and increases farmers self confidence.Reportedly, farmers who had mortgaged their lands tomeet their debts are now able to reclaim ownershipover their land. Out-migration has reduced and

farming is once again a dignified occupation. Finally,women farmers have proven again that when they arein the drivers seat, their development approaches aremore eco-sensitive, equitable, sustainable and have alonger term perspective.

Zakir Hussainis Programme Manager at the Centre for

Sustainable Agriculture (CSA) in Tarnaka, Andhra Pradesh,

India (e-mail: [email protected]). G.V. Ramanjaneyuluis

the Executive Director at CSA (e-mail: ramoo@csa-india.

org). G. Rajasekharis leading the seeds initiative at CSA

(e-mail: [email protected]). G. Chandra Shekaris

Head of Knowledge Management at CSA (e-mail:

[email protected])

Scaling up initiatives like NPM can take place with government assistance, and from farmer to farmer.

Photo: Mr Adinarayana



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The farmer familiarizes himself

with the standards of the market

where he intends to sell his

organic products. In Kenya thisis the Kenya Bureau of Standard.

Other standards conform to

the International Federation of

Organic Agriculture Movement

(IFOAM)

Establish the certifying agent

in the destination country

and make an application for

certification of the farm.

Prepare your farm for inspection

ensuring that a buffer zone has

been created between the farm

and neighbouring conventional

farms. Buffering includesdigging cut-off drains, growing

hedges and strips of bushes to

ensure contaminated water does

not get into the farm.

1

2

3

Steps in Establishing an Organic Farm

TECHNICALNOTE



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Independent inspectors from

the certifying agency or its

representative visit the farm to

ensure that it conforms with thestandards for that market and

issues an inspection certificate.

Once certified, products from

the farm can be sold as certified

organic. They should carry a

label showing the identity of the

certifying agent and the contacts

of the farm

The farmer should ensure

that they adhere to the set

standards for organic produce

for their preferred market

and be prepared for periodicrandom inspection. The firm can

henceforth produce organically

indefinitely.

4

5

6



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Pollinators Benefits forAgriculture and Nature

Pollination is the transfer of pollen from the male part to the female part of a flower

for seed and fruit development. This activity can be by abiotic (non-living) and biotic

(living organisms) factors. The main pollinators are: insects (bees, flies, beetles,

moths, d butterflies among others); vertebrates such as bats, non-flying mammalswhich include several species of monkeys, rodents, lemur, tree squirrels and birds.

Although pollination is vital for survival of both plants and animals, it is ignored and

unappreciated because it is provided free by nature.

By Wanja Kinuthia

Two thirds of the worlds food production and thereforehumanitys food and nutritional security, depends onpollinators. It is important to note that honey bees arejust one among many bee and insect pollinators. Hon-ey bees are in fact not the most efficient pollinators formost plants but are the most relied upon in commercialfarming due to the ease managing them. They aremore popular with family farmers due to productionof honey and other products such as beeswax, pollen,royal jelly, propolis, bee venom, bee brood.

Pollinators visit flowering plants (angiosperms) togather food for themselves and their young and inthe process perform pollination without which plantswould not reproduce. Man, his livestock and wildlife

would not get food, feed, browse, nesting sites andgood habitat to live in if it were not for pollinators.

Harmful practices Man-made(anthropogenic) activities that contribute to pollinatordecline include: destruction of natural ecosystems;detrimental farming practices like slash-and-burn; misuse/overuse of farm inputs (insecticides,fungicides, herbicides, fertilizers); monoculture;and clean farming (removal of all vegetation) in anagriculture setting. Overgrazing is another cause ofpollinator destruction. It leads to compacting of thesoil and destruction of ground-nesting sites for beesand other pollinators. Other human practices suchas collection of firewood destroy nests for pollinatorssince some bee species nest in dry twins and wood.

Pollinators in farms Pollinators in farmingareas can be conserved by changing farming practices.These include: adapting minimal tillage; avoid slash andburn activities; minimal or non-use of pesticides; and

leaving uncultivated areas around farmland to allow forgrowth of alternative pollinator-host plants.

GUESTCOLUMN

DinoMartins2013



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ONTHESUBJECTOF

Policy responses On-farm practices thatconserve pollinators can be enhanced by relevantauthorities incorporating conservation activities,education and public awareness programmesand pollinator-friendly policies in all sectors. It is

imperative that pollination research and its economicbenefits be mainstreamed in public and privatelearning institutions and among policy makers.

This is more urgent in the advent of the implementa-tion of Kenyas new system of government where the47 counties will be opening up new areas for develop-ment. If caution is not exercised, these will most likelybe at the expense of biodiversity-rich habitats.

Natural areas tend to be looked at as unutilizedvirgin land fit for agriculture, livestock and industrialdevelopment and the setting up of new cities. Con-sideration is rarely given to preservation or gazettingof natural habitats within or in the proximity of citiesfor recreation, national parks or forests. Road reservesshould be allowed to have indigenous vegetation toprovide floral resources for local pollinators, whichmay from one region to another. If this can be done,then pollinator species will be conserved, even in thenew governance dispensation.

International attention topollinatorsThe concept of preservation

and increasing pollinator habitats has taken root inwestern countries in an effort to revive pollinatorpopulations, which had declined in America andEuropean countries to the point of threateningfood security. The Urban Pollinator Project of theUniversity of Bristol in the UK is a case in point.The project, which is undertaken in the context ofthe UK Insect Pollinators Initiative (IPI), aims toinvestigate the current status of insect pollinatorsfound in UK urban areas by simultaneously samplingplant-pollinator communities in towns and cities inEngland, Scotland and Wales.

Local research on pollinatorsIn Kenya, a series of projects such as the BIOTApollination projects undertaken by the NationalMuseum of Kenya in collaboration with Germanand Kenyan institutions and the Kenya PollinationProject have gone a long way in profiling pollinationresearch in Kenya. The projects have carried out croppollination research in western eastern and centralKenya with a strong farmer-driven capacity buildingcomponent using Farmer Field Schools (FFS) andpublic awareness activities.

A methodology known as Study Train, Evaluate and

Promote (STEP), which involves farmers and agricul-ture extension officers, has worked well in promoting

D

inoMartins2013

pollination studies and conservation awareness. Theother effort is policy formulation for pollinator conser-vation which has been done in collaboration betweenNational Museums of Kenya and Kenya AgricultureResearch Institute (KARI). It is aimed at raising

awareness with policy makers in order to mainstreampollination research, build capacity, and raise publicawareness about pollinators conservation.

Economic venturesSimple economicventures by farmers, communities, schools/institutions, municipalities and homeowners toconserve pollinators can be undertaken. Theseinclude:

Incorporating pollinator-friendly (indigenous)plants in the development of pollination gardens,botanical gardens, medicinal plants gardens,kitchen gardens, and pollinator friendly flowergardens in institutions, business premises andmunicipalities. A small entry fee for a well-developed and labeled pollination garden couldraise funds for the owner.

Photography, artwork on cloth and jewelry usingthe colourful pollinators.

Cartoon/animation videos and storybooks

We urge you all to conserve pollinators that provideyour food and nutritional requirements.

References

http://www.pan-europe.info/aw/savehoneybees/www.urbanpollinators.orghttp://www.bristol.ac.uk/biology/research/ecological/community/pollinators/initiative/www.biota-africa.org/http://www.kari.org/kenya_pollination/www.discoverpollinators.org

Dr. Wanja Kinuthia works in the Invertebrate ZoologySection of the Department of Zoology, National Museumsof Kenya. She can be reached through E-mail: [email protected]



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OPENCOLUMN

STRENGTHENINGFAMILYFARMERSFrom Farmer-pastoralist Conflicts to Profitable Alliances

The area around Wum in the North-West Region of Cameroon is notorious asa conflict hotspot. As the available land is decreasing, conflicts occur between

sedentary family farmers and pastoral communities. Both family farmers and

pastoralists are left with too little land for crop and livestock production, seriously

threatening their farming systems, animals and livelihoods. Farmer-pastoralist

alliances help resolve the conflicts by transforming the relationships between these

families.

By Charles Kacho Tah



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Both the farming and pastoral families in WumCentral Sub-Division have used the land sincetime immemorial. The customary tenure system

is increasingly overruled by the costly, cumbersomeand corrupt land tenure law, making it difficultfor poor farmers and pastoralists to secure theirland rights legally. Farming and pastoralist familiesare evicted from what is suddenly referred to asstate land. In the Wum area, the relatively recentintroduction of a growing industrial tea estate hasmade land grabbing, exclusion and conflicts the newreality of family farmers and pastoralists.

Two groups, one land Arable farmersin this region generally cultivate a plot of land untillow soil fertility forces them to move to a new plot.Pastoralists, in their attempts to cope with unreliablerainfall patterns, move their livestock seasonally fromone grazing ground to another. While in the pastthese systems co-existed in harmony, more recentlythey have been breaking down with violent conflictsensuing. Access to land for families of farmers andpastoralists was at the centre of these conflicts.Farmers perceptions on land entitlement and thepastoralists relative wealth and power made conflict

difficult to resolve independently in the communities.Their increasingly extreme positions needed anexternal party to bring both parties to dialogue and assuch stimulate a change process.

In 2007, SNV Netherlands DevelopmentOrganisation started to work with farmers andpastoralists, developing an approach to conflictresolution based on dialogue at the community level.Involving local councils, nine farmer-pastoralistplatforms in nine conflict-prone villages in the Wumarea were created. These platforms bring togetherrepresentatives of the farming community, thepastoralist community and traditional leaders. Theydiscuss peaceful solutions and make annual plans thatregulate which crop and livestock activities will occurwhere and when. In total, over 40 dialogue platformswere created in eleven subdivisions in Cameroon.

Farming alliances An SNV studyshowed a 65% reduction in conflicts between 2007and 2010 in Wum. Instead of conflicts degeneratinginto uncontrollable situations, the farmer-pastoralistplatforms foster the emergence of mutually beneficial

farming alliances. These alliances constitute afarming partnership between a pastoralist family andone or more farm families whereby the pastoralistsanimals are permitted onto arable land after theharvest. The pastoralist family benefits because theanimals feed freely off the crop residue. The farmfamily benefits from the animals manure: arablefarms are continuously fertilized, allowing farmers tocultivate on the same land without losing fertility. Inother times of the year, animals stay in jointly definedgrazing areas.

> DIALOGUE AND COLLABORATION



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Better Crops and Healthier Animals

Farmer Delphine Fuh and pastoralist Sheffu Mohamadu of Naikom village, one of the villagesin Wum Central Sub-Division, have been collaborating in a farming alliance since 2010.Delphine notes with much excitement that where her family used to fight to remove pastoralistsfrom the land, today she and other farmers invite them to come onto their land. Delphinetells how her maize productivity has doubled, and her vegetable productivity tripled. At thesame time she saves on the chemical fertilizer she now no longer needs to purchase becauseher land is fertilized by the livestock. And she sees the results in the quality of her produce.Each time we harvest our vegetables my neighbours come and pay me in advance because ofthe exceptionally good quality and taste of my vegetables. Delphine points out that there areseven new initiatives for farming alliances emerged in her neighbourhood; all because of thesuccessful alliance between her and Sheffus families.

On his side, Sheffu recounts how his animals are now much healthier because they have accessto the crop residue and fresh pasture that grows just after the harvest. He spends less moneyon buying food for his family and herdsman because Delphine gives him access to her maizeand vegetables. Sheffu has secured his grazing land from encroachment by arable farmerswho used to claim more and more rights, referring to themselves as natives and him and theother pastoralists as strangers. Although I have already lost part of my land to farmers, I amoverwhelmed by the fact that ever since we started our farming alliance they are no longerdemanding additional land. Not only can I bring my cattle to their farms, the farmers have alsoopened up tracks giving my cattle access to drinking points.

Based on settlement patterns and geographicalparameters, variations of the basic farming allianceconcept have evolved. Local organisations and leadingfarmers and pastoralists now promote the approach.Access and management of pastoral resources throughfarming alliances has also found its way into thenew national legal texts such as the Pastoral Code ofCameroon.

Stronger families This experience offarmer-pastoralist alliances highlights three key areasto strengthen family farming: tenure security, conflictmanagement and sustainable farming practices.It shows how both farming and pastoralist familiescan make a difference in the wider community.Dialogue creates an enabling environment for cropand livestock integration, to replace the isolationfrom before. The use of cow dung for the fertilizationof arable farms is one of the ways in which alliancefarming helps pastoralist and farm families practice

more sustainable approaches. Also, farmers no longerhave to resort to shifting cultivation and slash-and-burn, helping them to improve soil fertility.

The farmer-pastoralist alliances not only avoidconflict, but also lead to tenure security betweenfarmers and pastoralists and within communities.It also leads to tenure security as a whole: wheredialogue platforms are stronger, the rural communitiesincluding both farmers and pastoralists are unitedand stand strong against activities of large investors.

Development organisations in the North West suchas the Mbororo Social and Cultural DevelopmentAssociation (MBOSCUDA) are currently promotingdialogue platforms in order to strengthen communityland rights for pastoralists and arable farmers andprotect them from land grabbing.

Charles Kacho Tah has been working with SNV since 2010to improve pastoral livelihoods in the North West Region ofCameroon. E-mail: [email protected]



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WateringBaobab

Introduction

The Baobab is a quarterly magazinethat is published in March, June,September and December. Everyissue has a theme that guides thetopic one can write on. Topic forMarch issue 2014: Agriculturalbiodiversity: Breaking the barriers

How to Write

Know what you are writing about inadvance and think clearly, carefullyreflecting on:

WHAT was the initial context andwhat were the difficulties faced?

WHAT were the reasons for theapproach taken to improve thesituation?

HOW did they go about it andwho took the initiative?

WHEN did all this happen, andto what extent was the timingimportant?

WHAT happened as a result?

WHY did it work out as it did?(We appreciate opinions/analysis/conclusions relevant to field level,as well as recommendations forpolicy makers).

WHERE did the action takeplace?

Please Ensure that You

1. Thoroughly read the call forarticles and check that the article

fits well with the theme beingcovered.

2. Explain any terms or ideas thatmay not be understood in everypart of the world.

3. Acknowledge all sources andreferences used.

4. Explain any abbreviations used.Full editorial support is provided.As the articles go through arigorous editorial process,authors are usually requested toprovide additional information orclarifications. We would thereforerather have too much informationthan too little in the first draft!

Format1. Articles should be about 700 to

1000 words (one, two or three-page articles) and should beemailed to [email protected] [email protected] as a word documentattachment.

2. Include no more than fivereferences. Each reference shouldinclude title, year of publication,name of author, and publisher.

3. Please provide a current contactaddress at the bottom of thearticle. This will also be publishedin the magazine. We wouldalso appreciate a contact phonenumber for our own use.

The editor reserves the right todecide whether or not to publish anarticle or contribution after receiptof the first full draft. Articles thatare accepted will be edited to theBaobab house style and shortened if

necessary.

Contributions edited in this waywill be returned to the authors for

approval before publication. Articlesaccepted for publication in the

Baobab may be chosen fortranslation in any of the six regionaleditions. We will endeavour toinform authors if their articleappears in other editions.

Photos

Pictures speak volumes. Two to fourpictures relevant to what you havewritten must accompany your article.

Illustrations, drawings, or maps

are also welcomed. Please providethe name of the photographer orartist. Please ensure the photos orillustrations are of suitable quality.

Send the pictures as attachmentsin jpeg format of at least 300kb andabove. Also remember to includea caption outlining the people oractivity in the picture.

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Please note that we use the CreativeCommons License Attribution non-commercial share alike 3.0 unportedpolicy regarding copyright.

We encourage free and openexchange of information. As suchreaders and authors are encouragedto copy and circulate articles fromthe Baobab quoting the source. Inaddition, this means that we mayuse submitted photos or text in ourother publications. We will try tocontact you and credit your work inaccordance with the license.



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CALLFORARTICLES

Agricultural biodiversity plays a huge role inmaintaining resilient local economies, balanced dietsand balanced ecosystems. The rapid disappearanceof agricultural biodiversity and the lack of measuresto protect it are therefore great causes of concern.Mainstream agricultural policies, which generallypromote monoculture agriculture, GeneticallyModified Organisms (GMOs) and IntellectualProperty Rights threaten such agricultural biodiversity,having an impact on agricultural landscapes, species,

varieties, breeds, the wild relatives of crops andlivestock, pollinators, micro-organisms and genes.These policies and practices lead to the disappearanceof plant and animal species, and the knowledgeembedded in their management and use.

There is some good news though: in recent yearsmany promising initiatives have been launchedaround the world that aims to preserve and manageagricultural biodiversity. Small-scale family farmersoften play a central role in these, acting as custodiansof biodiversity. But other actors and institutions alsoplay important roles. Producers, public and privateinstitutions and consumers are reconnecting witheach other through innovative market arrangements,many of them at local or regional level. Farmers and

researchers are taking up joint research initiatives,and farmers organisations are engaging in dialogueswith policymakers, pushing for policies that enhanceagrobiodiversity.

Issue 70 of Baobabwill look at these emerginginitiatives and at the insights gained from initiativesaround east Africa to up-scale these experiences. Weparticularly aim to explore the factors that influencethe transformation towards more sustainable and

diverse production systems, and the factors that helpbreak existing barriers:why have someexperiencesbeen more successfully spread and scaled up?

The topics we will look at will include therevitalisation of local seed systems and indigenouslivestock breeds at a large scale; the marketmechanisms and policies that support agrobiodiversity;farmers innovations and the role of knowledgeand information networks. As 2014 will be theInternational Year of Family Farmingthis editionwill explore the close interconnection betweenagricultural biodiversity and family farming.

Articles should be sent to the editor, [email protected], before January 31st, 2014.

Agricultural biodiversity:

Breaking the barriers

TonyKimathiALIN2013



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This publicationby FAO, OrganicAgriculture: AfricanExperiences inResilience andSustainabilitydemonstrates thatorganic managementcan benefit people,the economy andecosystems andthat this can beachieved in Africa,where hungerand degradationstubbornly persist,despite decades of

development efforts.The work presented in this volume stems from theconference on Mainstreaming Organic Agriculturein the African Development Agenda, held in Lusaka,Zambia, from 2 to 4 May 2012. Participants of thisConference shared research results confirming thatorganic agricultural practices increase yields, improvelivelihoods and food security, conserve indigenousknowledge, plant varieties and animal breeds, as well associocultural development, and provide much greaterresilience in times of climate extremes, such as droughtand heavy rains.

The different chapters document sustainabilityexperiences, including: mainstreaming organicagriculture into African development approaches;community-based livestock systems combining

holistic range management; indigenous ethno-veterinary practices and new understanding ofcustomary systems of resource management; eco-functional intensification through managementof legumes, systems of rice intensification andintegrated farming; and smallholders knowledgeharnessed through family farmers learning groupsand customized information and communicationtechnologies.

The studies from different Sub-Saharan countriesdemonstrate that successful organic farming is aboutwhole farm management, where feeding the soil feeds

the plant, where optimal nutrient cycling is achievedthrough plant and animals management in time(i.e. rotations) and space (i.e. associations) and wherequality production goes hand-in-hand with marketlinkages. Sound agronomy is a recipe that needs to beowned by farmers who have specific cultures and bypastoralists who have specific environments: traditionalknowledge and flexible management strategies aretherefore critical for successful outcomes.

This review is the condensed Preface for thepublication written by Alexander Mueller, AssistantDirector-General Natural Resources Management andEnvironment Department, FAO.

RESOURCES

Organic Agriculture: African Experiences in Resilienceand Sustainability

A review by Robert Wagner

Treesilience is an outcome of a six-monthconsultative process on dryland forestry involvingfive dozen specialists from across the East Africanregion and beyond. The book sets a hopeful, positive

tone for revisiting, indeed revamping how drylandcommunity development is defined and done.

Early chapters of Treesilience describe theunique characteristics of the East African region:geographical, agro-ecological and demographic.They assemble a wealth of detailed backgroundmaterial on trees and resilience (Chapter 4), EasternAfrican tree ecology (Chapter 5), and the ecosystemservices approach to classifying tree benefits (Chapter6). These early chapters provide readers with the toolsneeded to take on the challenges of using trees moreeffectively in dry land community development.

Readers preparing funding proposals, or developingtraining materials, will find much useful reference

material here. A stated objective of the consultativeprocess was to assemble and make accessible thescattered knowledge, practice and experience ofusing trees in dry lands specifically to enhancelivelihood resilience. The report does an excellentjob of this and deserves wide use in training,

educational courses at regional colleges anduniversities, and (perhaps in condensed form) asa guideline to forward-thinking planners in aidinstitutions.

Available from: World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)

Email: Jan de Leeuw ordownload the PDF at: www.worldagroforestry.org/publications/Treesilience2013final.pdf [7.3mb]

Note: the review author was a co-facilitatorof the write-shop which led to this report

and an editor of the draft text. He holds novested interest in its circulation other thanencouraging a wide readership.

Treesilience: Rebuilding Livelihood and Ecosystem Resiliencein East African Drylands Using Trees



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By choosing to celebrate this year, we recognize thatfamily farmers are leading figures in responding to

the double urgency the world faces today: improvingfood security and preserving the natural resources, inline with the Millennium Development Goals, with

the debate on the post-2015 development agenda andthe Zero Hunger Challenge,

FAO Director-General Jos Graziano da Silva, during the launch of theInternational Year of Family Farming in New York on November 22, 2013

Cultivators of the earth are the most valuablecitizens. Tey are the most vigorous, the most

independent, the most virtuous, and they are tied totheir country and wedded to its liberty and interests

by the most lasting bands

Thomas Jefferson

When it is understood that one loses joy andhappiness in the attempt to possess them, the essence

of natural farming will be realized. Te ultimategoal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the

cultivation and perfection of human beings.Masanobu Fukuoka, Author of The One-Straw Revolution

baobab issue on organic farming

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