8/6/2019 S5 Edwards

1/34

ROLE OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE IN PREVENTING AND REVERSING LAND

DEGRADATION

By Sue EdwardsInstitute for Sustainable Development,

Ethiopia Also representing IFOAM

8/6/2019 S5 Edwards

2/34

Land degradation

Soil erosion and desertification are thephysical expressions of land degradation,while the social and economic impacts aredegraded lifestyles and pernicious poverty.

An understanding of how to maintainhealthy soil is essential to reverse andprevent land degradation. Healthy soilcarries a good plant cover and enablesrain water to infiltrate and recharge bothsoil water and underlying aquifers.

8/6/2019 S5 Edwards

3/34

What is IFOAM?

IFOAM, the (International Federation Of Organic Agriculture Movements) has its head office inBonn, Germany

Its mission is leading, uniting and assisting theorganic movement in its full diversity

The goal is the worldwide adoption of ecologically, socially and economically soundsystems that are based on the Principles of Organic Agriculture

8/6/2019 S5 Edwards

4/34

What is organic agriculture? Organic agriculture is a whole system approach

based upon a set of processes resulting insustainable ecosystems, safe food, goodnutrition, animal welfare and social justice. It ismore than just a system of production thatincludes or excludes certain inputs, particularlyagro-chemicals, because it builds on andenhances the ecological management skills of the farmer, the fisher folk and the pastoralist.Practicing organic or agro-ecological agriculturerequires ecological knowledge, planning andcommitment to work with natural systems, rather than trying to change them.

8/6/2019 S5 Edwards

5/34

Organic agriculture and mitigating

climate change In 2004, IFOAM commissioned a scopingstudy on The Role of Organic Agriculture

in Mitigating Climate Change. It looked at the possibilities of reducinggreenhouse gases (GHG)

8/6/2019 S5 Edwards

6/34

Organic agriculture is a systematicstrategy, which may reduce GHGemissions and enhance sequestration of carbon

The strategy includes basic principles tobe followed, compulsory standards to be

respected, suitable productiontechnologies, and a system of inspectionand certification to guarantee adherenceto the process

8/6/2019 S5 Edwards

7/34

Basic principles

To encourage and enhance biologicalcycles within the farming system

To maintain and increase long-term fertilityin soils To use, as far as possible, renewable

resources in locally organized productionsystems

To minimize all forms of pollution

8/6/2019 S5 Edwards

8/34

Emission Reductions

Carbon dioxide through: Avoidance of shifting cultivation Reduction of fossil fuel consumption

Methane Soil management to increased oxidation of methane,

also grasslands and forests Compost and biogas Animal husbandry, particularly locally produced and

appropriate feeds, and controlling grazing Paddy cultivation with aeration periods

8/6/2019 S5 Edwards

9/34

Nitrous oxide produced by all forms of nitrogen

No synthetic N fertilizer is used Nitrogen comes from within the system thusavoiding overdoses and high losses

Animal stocking rates are limited

Diets for dairy cows lower in protein andhigher in fibre, and use of crops (sunflower seeds) that reduce NO2 emissions

8/6/2019 S5 Edwards

10/34

Biomass as a substitute for fossil fuel Directly as a crop Processing slurry in biogas

Agroforestry Shade trees in plantation crops Fuel wood plantation

Trees in cropland Living fences etc

8/6/2019 S5 Edwards

11/34

Can organic agriculture combatpoverty? An example from northern Ethiopia Despite the fact that Ethiopia is also

known as the water tower of the Horn of Africa, it is better known for the images of

emaciated children and the high rate of soil erosion

Can this be reversed?

8/6/2019 S5 Edwards

12/34

MAP OF ETHIOPIAWITH REGIONALBOUNDARIES

8/6/2019 S5 Edwards

13/34

The popular image is a desert dry, withvery little vegetation, and very largenumbers of free-ranging livestock

8/6/2019 S5 Edwards

14/34

W hy the degradation ? Efforts at State building destroyed local organization in

most of the country starting from in 2 nd half of the 19 thcentury

Development efforts started only in the 1960s andlargely ignored smallholder (peasant) farmers despitethe fact that 90% or more of the food comes from them

The 1974 revolution and its impact on land resourceuse

The land was mined, and there were no inputs intechnologies or ideas to help the farmers improve their productivity

The Sasakawa-Global 2000 approach uses high externalinputs, out of reach for most smallholder farmers botheconomically and ecologically

8/6/2019 S5 Edwards

15/34

The existing strengths

Farmers control their own seeds and there is stilla wealth of agro-biodiversity and farmerstraditional knowledge

Traditional methods for managing and usingland resources, e.g. grazing land, farms are stillin place in many communitiesLocal community members work together, andthis is being strengthened through the presentpolicy of decentralization

8/6/2019 S5 Edwards

16/34

The components of theproject, or basket of choices

Making and using compost (ISD initiative) Trench bunds for catching both soil and water

(BoA initiative) Planting small multipurpose trees particularly

Sesbania and local grasses (ISD and BoAinitiative improved by farmers)

Halting gullies (at farmers demand) Making communal ponds (farmers initiative) Making and using bylaws to control access and

use of local biological resources and controlgrazing (ISD initiative)

8/6/2019 S5 Edwards

17/34

A di Nefas in1997 and 2003

8/6/2019 S5 Edwards

18/34

Zeban Sasgrazing area in1996 startingthe rehabilitationwork

Zeban Sas grazing

area in October2003

8/6/2019 S5 Edwards

19/34

Pond

Adi Nefas All the components being used in October 2003

Rehabilitatedgully

Sesbaniatrees and long

grassesComposted fields of tef, wheat and barley

FabaBea

n

8/6/2019 S5 Edwards

20/34

8/6/2019 S5 Edwards

21/34

Training on CompostTraining on Compost

8/6/2019 S5 Edwards

22/34

Impact of compost on

yieldsSampling technique (F A O method formonitoring food security)

Samples were taken with the farmers.Fields were selected and 3 one-metresquare plots were cut and threshed,and the straw and grain weighed withthe farmers.

10 Birr is equivalent to 1 Euro, or 8.5 Birr equals 1 USD.

8/6/2019 S5 Edwards

23/34

Table 1: Grain yields (in kg/ha), expenses andreturns (in Birr) for Adi Nefas in 2003 (7 years)

Crop Input Yield

Gross

income

Fertilizer

cost Net incomeFaba Bean Compost 4391 13173 0 13173

Check 2287 6861 0 6861

Finger Millet Compost 2650 4505 0 4505Check 833 1416 0 1416

Maize Compost 5480 8768 0 8768Check 708 1133 0 1133

Teff Compost 1384 3875 0 3875

Fertilizer 1033 2892 377 2515C

heck 739 2069 0 2069W heat Compost 2250 5625 0 5625

Fertilizer 1480 3700 377 3323Check 842 2105 0 2105

Barley Compost 1633 3266 0 3266

Check 859 1718 0 1718

8/6/2019 S5 Edwards

24/34

Crop Input Yield

Gross

income

Fertilizer

cost Net incomeFaba Bean Compost 2900 8700 0 8700

Fertilizer 1100 3300 377 2923

Check 766 2298 0 2298Finger Millet Compost 2000 3400 0 3400

Fertilizer 1433 2436 377 2059

Check 500 850 0 850

Maize Compost 2000 3200 0 3200

Fertilizer 1133 1813 377 1436

Check 680 1088 0 1088

Table 2: Grain yields (in kg/ha), expenses and returns (in Birr) for AdiGua edad in 2003 (1 st year)

8/6/2019 S5 Edwards

25/34

Crop Input YieldGrossincome

Fertilizercost Net income

Barley Compost 2193 4386 0 4386

Fertilizer 1283 2566 377 2189

Check 900 1800 0 1800W heat Compost 1020 2550 0 2550

Fertilizer 1617 4043 377 3666

Check 590 1475 0 1475

Teff Compost 1650 4620 0 4620

Fertilizer 1150 3220 377 2843

Check 390 1092 0 1092

Table 2: continued

10 Birr is equivalent to 1 Euro, or 8.5 Birr equals 1 USD.

8/6/2019 S5 Edwards

26/34

Crops not usually given chemicalfertilizer

Finger Millet Faba BeanField Pea

These are usually not given much attention, but withcompost, high yield increases have been obtained.It is interesting to see that the checks for faba bean

and field pea in A dibo Mossa in 2002 were nearlythe same as the compost treatment.

They were growing on previously composted fieldsand were benefiting from the residual effect of thecompost

8/6/2019 S5 Edwards

27/34

Faba Bean with and withoutcompost

Yields have risen fromless than 500 kg/ha onnon-compost treated fieldsto around 2,500 kg/hawhen compost is applied.

8/6/2019 S5 Edwards

28/34

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000

Finger Millet/ Adi Nefas/02

Finger Millet/ Guroro/02

Faba Bean / Adi Abo Mossa/98

Faba Bean / Adi Abo Mossa/02

Field Pea / Adi Abo Mossa/98

Field Pea / Adi Abo Mossa/02

Yield (kg/ha)

Compost

Check

Yields (kg/ha ) for faba bean , field pea and finger millet in 3 sites - 1998

8/6/2019 S5 Edwards

29/34

Indicators of Sustainability

Maintaining or increasing agricultural biodiversity:for example, Ziban Sas was growing only wheatand barley mixed together and a little teff, but nowother crops e.g. maize and faba bean, are alsogrown.

Reduced weeds: weed seeds, pathogens andinsect pests are killed by the high temperature inthe compost pits, but earthworms and other usefulsoil organisms establish well.

Increased moisture retention capacity of the soil: if rain stops early, crops grown on composted soilresist wilting for about two weeks longer than thosegrown on soil treated with chemical fertilizer.

8/6/2019 S5 Edwards

30/34

Disease and pest resistance: as seen through theproblem of shoot fly on teff and root borer on fababean in Tahitai Maichew and Laelai Maichewrespectively, crops are more disease and pestresistant.

Residual effect: farmers who have used compostfor one or two years can obtain high yields fromtheir crops the next year without applying compostafresh.

Economic returns: farmers have been able to stopbuying chemical fertilizer, but they still get evenhigher yields.

Flavour: food is said to taste better.

8/6/2019 S5 Edwards

31/34

E thiopia and Organic Production

In March 2006, the Ethiopian Governmentpassed a law setting out a framework for organic farming.

The results of the farmers in Tigray inproducing and using compost indicate thatthe aim for Ethiopia having a substantialnumber of farmers producing organicallycould be realized.

8/6/2019 S5 Edwards

32/34

Protection and promotion of

sustainable livelihoodsDeveloping bylaws has been an essential partof the community decision making andimplementation.

These statutes were developed by consensusto govern the activities of each member aswell as that of the whole community in order to manage the land under the usufruct rightof each member and the community so thatthe whole environment in which thecommunity lives and its productivity areimproved sustainably.

8/6/2019 S5 Edwards

33/34

Other examples from Africa

SEKEM in Egypt, led by Dr. Ibrahim Abouleish

Organic cotton farmers in Benin NOGUM and EPOPA in Uganda andTanzania >2% of production is organic

Dried fruits and vegetables from over 600producers, mostly women, Burkino Fasso

8/6/2019 S5 Edwards

34/34

A farmer of the future