Harare — Organic farming has emerged as a sustainable alternative to enhance food security in Zimbabwe as efforts to revive agriculture gather pace.
Such alternative systems as organic farming help create sustainable systems that have minimal reliance on external inputs. Zimbabwe Organic Producers and Promoters Association chief executive Mrs Fortunate Nyakanda said in this regard, her organisation intended to promote the development of multiple strategies that will revive the country's agricultural sector.
"ZOPPA appreciates the current efforts to revive the agriculture sector by Government through the Short Term Emergency Recovery Programme and various development partners, both local and international including UN agencies." "The organisation is however concerned that there is lack of appreciation of other sustainable agricultural systems that do not heavily rely on external inputs such as chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides," the organisation said.
There was need to highlight that the world had come to realise that other alternative low-cost, environmental friendly and healthy farming systems were worth promoting.
"Organic agriculture is an environmentally friendly farming system that ensures care, balance and sustainability of the ecosystem while ensuring the health of people and the land," Mrs Nyakanda said. By the end of 2007, world agriculture land under organic agriculture was 32,2 million hectares, with the global markets for organic products reaching a value of about US$46 billion.
In Africa countries such as Kenya and Uganda also had substantial amounts of land certified organic. By May this year, Uganda had 296 203 hectares certified organic, up from 122 000 hectares in 2006 and the country's total exports on organic products fetched US$22,8 million.
"We therefore call upon Government in close collaboration with development partners to seriously consider the support of organic agriculture systems as part of agriculture revival strategy."
"ZOPPA is prepared to engage relevant stakeholders in developing a national strategy and policy on organic agriculture," said Mrs Nyakanda.
ZOPPA Trust is a national movement that strives to bring together organic producers, promoters and processors for the development of organic agriculture in Zimbabwe.
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Uplit44, you make some good suggestions on farming profitability but presuming for instance that the farm lands or co-operatives in Zimbabwe are in the hands of the common person and not just inclusively Zanu -PF as the case is right now. I particularly liked what you said that, "We are making hundreds whilst giving away billions." There is no reason why Zimbabwe should not be exporting her delicious Mazoe oranges, Mangoes, watermelons sweet potatoes and other produce overseas. We have such produce imported from Peru, the Phillipines, Mexico and other countries, so why not Zimbabwe. Once, a long time ago, I surprisingly found sugar and monkey nuts ( Peanuts) imported from Malawi at our local supermarket, and my sister in law who is Malawian had tears in her eyes when I presented them to her. All we can say whilst Mugabe is in power is "IF wishes were horses, beggars would ride."