PRESENTED AT SAFE PROJECT CONFERENCE AND BOOK LAUNCHING CEREMONY

MAY 31ST TO JUNE 2ND , 2010OCEAN PARADISE HOTEL, ZANZIBAR

BY

E. R. MBIHA

Challenges and Opportunities of Organic Agriculture in

Tanzania(Book Chapter 5 by E.R. Mbiha & G.C. Ashimogo)

STRUCTURE OF THE PRESENTATION

IntroductionExpected benefits/Awareness Initiatives by stakeholders to develop organic

agriculture in TanzaniaCase StudiesKey constraints and challenges as related to:

Consumer demand Market access Contracts Value addition and processing Farmers

Conclusion and recommendations

INTRODUCTION

Farmers in Tanzania generally practice low input agriculture – ‘organic by default’

Organic Agriculture (OA) generally means a sustainable and environmentally friendly agriculture production system

It also provides interesting marketing opportunities

Codex Alimentarius Commission “… a holistic production management system which promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles and soil bilogical activity …..”

Awareness and expected benefits of OA

Increasing yields in low input agricultureConserving biodiversity and natural

resources on the farm and neighborhoodIncreasing income or reducing costsProducing “safe” foodLong term sustainabilityAwareness: Many producers and

consumers are not aware of these benefits

INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

1990s government lead campaign – stimulated donor’s , NGOs support and projects like EPOPA.

A number of organizations and programmes promoted OA

REGULATORS, PROMOTERS, CERTIFIERS 2002 PELUM initiated process of setting up standards

and certification 2004 establishment of TanCert (certification) 2005 establishment of TOAM (leadership & coordination)

EPOPA (promoted access to international markets, played part in establishment of TanCert, TOAM and East African Organic Standard)

INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Government Role:ASDS mentions OAA few clauses in policy statements support OA

but a number do not explicitly mention OAGovernment policies and strategies for

agriculture development are developed in several ministries (about 8). Five of these are referred to in the ASDS as the Agriculture Sector Lead Ministries (ASLMs). These 5 exclude the Environment Division in VPO, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and Ministry of Lands and Human Settlement

INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Challenges to policy development Inadequate capacity in OA research, extension

and training Limited understanding and awareness Limited promotion, supply, research on OA Access and affordability of certification services Continued promotion of synthetic agro-chemicals

CASE STUDIES

Organic Cashew nutOrganic cashew nut production declined in

Kerekese village due to unstable prices, unreliable supply of sulphur and credit delivery conditions.

Prices decline from one season to the next Premier Cashew Industries Company Ltd

was the sole buyer Farmers were compelled to sell to PCI as a

strategy to make farmers repay the loan

Case Studies

Organic cashew nutCredit amount not meeting requirements Lack of credit facilities in the neighboring

villages – temptation to sell sulphur to non-project farmers

The amount of credit provided to buy sulphur too small. The credit is also insufficient to cover other costs like weeding, spraying and harvesting. Low productivity is inevitable.

Case Studies

Changes in market organization: Introduction of Warehouse Receipt System

Premier Cashew Industries stopped to buy from Kerekese Village. Reasons: Low supplies, Change in buying system (dealing with farmers’ coop society managing the warehouses)

The above listed problems restrict transmission of premium prices obtained in the world market to farmers

CONSTRAINTS AND CHALLENGES

Challenges/Issues for OA development in TanzaniaInadequate capacity to carry out OA

initiatives such as research, training and extension services

Limited understanding and awareness of opportunities and potentials of OA system

CONSTRAINTS AND CHALLENGES

Limited accessibility and affordability of certification services by small holder farmers as a marketing requirement

Potential conflict on use of organic inputs vs promotion of inorganic chemical inputs

Uncoordinated planning Perceptions that OA leads to low

productivity

RECOMMENDATIONS

A. INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT Simplification of accreditation Incorporate directly OA issues in policies Sensitize, build capacity of producers and marketing

associations

B. ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS Ensure price transmission mechanisms that benefit the

primary producer Improve access to credit Improve availability of inputs

C. ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES Publicize environmental rationale of OA

The End

THANK YOU