CHAPTER 4: NON-TRADITIONAL AGRICULTURAL DIVERSIFICATION STRATEGY – THE
4.7. Best Practices and Institutional Factors Necessary for the Development of the Organic Agricultural
4.7. Best Practices and Institutional Factors Necessary for the Development of the
conditions of the organic agricultural sector. This assessment should be supplemented with clearly defined objectives relating to government involvement in the development of the organic agricultural sector. In addition, an action plan should be developed that provides targets for the organic sector; this will assist stakeholders and agencies in focusing their efforts (Giovannucci, 2006; Rundgren, 2008).
It is essential that general agricultural policies and organic policies are aligned. This is particularly important if organic agriculture is to be incorporated into a country‟s key policies, namely agricultural policies, food and health policies, poverty eradication policies and environmental policies. This can only be realised when governments recognise the diverse interests represented by the organic sector, which will then enable them to integrate organic agriculture objectives into various mainstream policies (Källander and Rundgren, 2008).
Thereafter, it is essential that governments create permanent bodies through which the relevant departments can consult with the private sector involved in organic agriculture and so address the needs of stakeholders such as farmers and cooperatives. Governments‟
involvement will promote the development of the organic sector and assist stakeholders with achieving their objectives. In order to assess the growth, trends and overall performance of the organic sector, data needs to be collected, analysed and made accessible to stakeholders and policy-makers (Rundgren, 2008).
4.7.2. Standards and Regulations
Currently, there are two international standards for organic agriculture, the Codex Alimentarius Guidelines and the IFOAM Basic Standards. Many countries‟ organic standards and regulations are based on one or both of these international standards. This simplifies the trade of organic products, but not for the farmers (particularly smallholder farmers), since these regulations and standards are not country-specific (Bowen, 2003;
Egelyng, 2007; Källader and Rundgren, 2008).
As such, when developing national or regional standards and regulations for organic production, it is important that governments collaborate with the private sector and international regulating bodies. This will ensure that standards and regulations are
large majority of farmers in sub-Saharan African countries are smallholders, governments should facilitate access to certification services by advocating that international certification organisations create local offices and should assist in the development of local certification bodies (Wynen, 2003; Rundgren, 2008).
Sub-Saharan African governments should encourage organic farmers, particularly smallholder farmers, to comply with existing standards, regulations and certification procedures. In addition, they should implement special considerations specific to smallholder farmers . An example of such special consideration would be to encourage group certification and the establishment of an internal control system to reduce costs but maintain high standards across the organic sector. This has been successful in South Africa. In the event of group certification, it is essential that governments provide training for the farmers on how to set up an internal group system and the procedures involved in group certification (Raynolds, 2004; Giovannucci, 2006; Hine and Pretty, 2006).
4.7.3. Markets
The organic agricultural market essentially only accepts high quality produce. While some crops, such as coffee, can easily be converted to organic produce, this results in oversaturation of the market, leading supply to outstrip demand and prices to decrease.
As a result, organic markets and the higher prices associated with organic produce should not be assumed. Thus, before embarking on key initiatives to increase the supply of organic produce, sufficient research should be undertaken and a proposed plan of market activities should be considered (IFAD, 2003; Rundgren, 2008).
Strategies to develop domestic organic markets should include measures for both the demand and supply side, as well as address the role to be played by imports. Furthermore, export promotion necessitates governmental support. Organic agricultural exporters should be encouraged to unite in order to enhance the promotion and marketing of organic produce. Governments can play an important role in developing organic markets during initial stages, by assisting producer organisations with developing efficient supply chains, thus ensuring timeous and accurate distribution of the produce. This efficient distribution can be enhanced through the development of market information systems (El-Hage Scialabba, 2000; Rundgren, 2008).
4.7.4. Production
The organic production conditions are crucial to the development of the organic sector, since the success or failure of organic farming is a direct result of the farm and farmer‟s activities and not government‟s activities. However, governments can enhance production and the sector as a whole through providing support and financial assistance and implementing appropriate policies. It is therefore necessary that governments develop direct support measures to help both small farmers and commercial operations.
This can be achieved by establishing extension services and providing staff training. Such initiatives should be participatory and the farmers should be encouraged to incorporate existing traditional knowledge on pest controls and seed varieties into their farm management practices (Lampkin, 2003; Källader and Rundgren, 2008).
Furthermore, governments should establish basic controls for biological inputs, such as pest control agents and organic fertilizers. The breeding and testing of seed varieties should be adjusted to suit organic production and alternative seed treatments should be identified and promoted. Such efforts must ensure that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are not allowed to contaminate organic seeds. (Kim, 2003; Rundgren, 2008).
4.7.5. Other (Including Training, Education and Research)
Education, research and training play a vital role in the future development of the organic sector. New and improved methods of production, as well as supply chains, can be identified through research. These new methods can be conveyed to farmers and producers via educational and training programmes. As such, it is necessary to establish specialised training and research institutes for organic farming. Research and development in organic agriculture should be of a participatory nature, building on and incorporating traditional knowledge and the needs of farmers (El-Hage Scialabba, 2000).
In order to keep abreast of international trends in the organic sector, governments and the private sector should attend or participate in international forums hosted by international organic bodies such as the Codex Alimentarius and IFOAM. Overall, cohesion and cooperation should be promoted at a regional level with respect to initiatives on marketing, standards, conformity assessments and research and development to ensure
that the entire organic sector and its supply chain are operating at an optimal level and working towards a common goal (Rundgren, 2008).