Zambia: Can Organic Agriculture Feed the World?

29 December 2005
The Post (Lusaka)
analysis

Lusaka — "In developing countries, UNDP (1992) concluded that organic farming methods seem able to provide similar outputs, with less external resources, supplying a similar income per labour day as high input conventional approaches. Studies show increases in output where local farmers adopt organic farming systems, reaching levels similar to those of high input systems."

Before the 19th century, most food in the world was organically produced using human and animal manure. Agricultural revolution began in England when a horse-drawn hoe and seed drill were invented in the early 19th century. In the mid-19th century, super phosphate fertiliser was manufactured. The first tractor with internal combustion engine was invented in the USA in 1910. At about the same time, a German chemist developed a process which led to the manufacture of nitrogen fertiliser. Nitrogen fertiliser was needed in large amounts to benefit from the discovery of high-yielding hybrid maize.

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