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Organic Agriculture Contributes to Millennium Development Goals in Africa - IFOAM to establish Africa Organic Service Centre in Dakar, Senegal |
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September 08, 2005
Organic Agriculture Contributes to Millennium Development Goals in Africa - IFOAM to establish Africa Organic Service Centre in Dakar, Senegal |
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Recognizing the booming growth and potential of organic agriculture for contributing to the Millennium Development Goals in Africa, the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) has established an Africa Organic Service Centre (AOSC) in Dakar, Senegal. Mr. Chido Makunike, a recognized leader in the African environmental and organic initiatives hailing from Zimbabwe, has been selected as the IFOAM AOSC’s Coordinator. |
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Known for excellence in journalism by many southern African
readers, Mr. Makunike is strongly supported by the organic movements in
Zambia and Zimbabwe. Rene Fischer, Director of the Zimbabwe Organic
Producers’ and Processors’ Association emphasized, “Chido’s passion for
the organic movement combined with his highly-tuned skills for critical
analysis will serve the African organic industry well.” The IFOAM AOSC
was established in 2004 and was initially located in Kampala, Uganda.
In close cooperation with the 66 IFOAM member organizations in 22
African countries and the IFOAM AOSC advisory committee, Mr. Makunike
will initiate strategic efforts to facilitate growth and development of
the African organic sector. Mr. Makunike notes, “The greatest challenge
of the IFOAM AOSC is to connect and bring together the diversity of the
organic agricultural sector in Africa into a coherent and unified
continent-wide movement.”
The initial scope of the IFOAM AOSC’s activities will focus on the
expansion of communications to IFOAM members and likeminded
organizations, enhancing the visibility of organic agriculture in
Africa and the promotion of continent specific development initiatives
such as the development of regional organic standards, facilitation of
local and export markets, and the increased recognition of the role
organic agriculture plays in enhancing food security, to name a few.
“Significantly, the IFOAM AOSC has the potential to dramatically
elevate the importance of organic agriculture in Africa. Through
networking with national movements, governments and intergovernmental
agencies, the benefits of organic farming will become unmistakably
clear, and it is my hope that all of the stakeholders, from farmers to
government officials, will coalesce to support organic agriculture and
a sustainable solution for African people,” asserts El Hadji Hamath
Hane, IFOAM World Board member from Senegal.
Over 75% of Africa’s workforce is employed in agriculture. Organic
farming contributes to the Millennium Development Goals of improved
health and food security, environmental conservation and economic
development. The benefits of organic farming for Africa are numerous,
from increasing yields and conserving water in semi-arid areas and
combating desertification, to debt reduction of farmers, strengthening
of social systems and maximization of environmental services. Gerald A.
Herrmann, IFOAM Executive Director explains, “The ecological, social
and economic benefits of organic agriculture for the people of Africa
are many. We have invested in the IFOAM AOSC to realize this potential.
We hope that governments and intergovernmental agencies, particularly
the United Nations, will also recognize organic agriculture’s potential
for Africa and make the necessary investment. Organic agriculture is an
agricultural system that can make positive and permanent changes on a
human scale, utilizing resources effectively.”
More details about the Africa Organic Service Centre can be found on
IFOAM’s website
http://www.ifoam.org/about_ifoam/around_world/africa.html. Further
information can be requested from IFOAM Head Office
(Charles-de-Gaulle-Str. 5, 53113 Bonn, Germany, phone +49-228-92650-10).
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IFOAM Press Release, responsible Gerald A. Herrmann
Contact: Neil Sorensen
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