Learning Event No. 5, Session 1: Edwards. ARDD2012 Rio

#IFOAMRio @IFOAMorganic18 June 2012 | Agriculture & Rural Dvelopment Day | Rio de Janeiro | BrazilEcological and Social Intensification ofAgriculture for Food Security & PovertyEradicationFEATURING• Vandana Shiva and the Navdanya Network (India)• Sue Edwards and the Institute for Sustainable Development (Ethiopia)• Andre Leu and the Organic Farmers of Australia• Hans Herren and the Biovision Africa Trust (Kenya)• Laercio Meirelles and Centro Ecológico (Brazil)

#IFOAMRio Africa’s agricultural challenges @IFOAMorganicAgriculture is diverse, with both Traditional Knowledge and genetic resources under-valued and poorly studiedSparsely populated, e.g. DCR is the size of Europe but has a population the same size as BelgiumPopulation is young, 75% under 30Many Lost to ‘brain drain’Infrastructure investment has focused on extraction (minerals) and not on people centered developmentVery poor R&D investment, particularly for agricultureCurrent solutions promoted by agribusiness for an African Green Revolution will not be sustainable

#IFOAMRio @IFOAMorganic AFRICA’SAGRICULTURAL SYSTEMSEthiopia classified as Highland Temperate Mixed

#IFOAMRio @IFOAMorganic Ethiopia – agroecological challenges Where ISD is workingD r y a n d/ or cold a r e a s w it hlow pr odu ct ion pot e n t ia lLow soil su it a bilit yLow a n d e r r a t ic r a in fa llSt e e p slope s a n d m ou n t a in sSe ve r e a n d ve r y se ve r e la n dde gr a da t ionLow t o m e diu m clim a t icpr odu ct ion pot e n t ia lH igh clim a t ic pr odu ct ionpot e n t ia l Source: FAO

#IFOAMRio @IFOAMorganic Ecological Degradation in EthiopiaLand degradation, particularly soil erosion, is a core challenge for Sustainable Development in Africa

#IFOAMRio @IFOAMorganic Ecological Intensification• For a Green Revolution to succeed, Africa and Ethiopia need a BROWN REVOLUTION• Soil built up and maintained through establishing effective cycling of nutrients• Returning living carbon – HUMUS – to soil• Organic fertilizers: – Compost (including bioslurry) – Cover crops – Agroforestry with multipurpose trees• Restored soil gives doubled crop yields IN 4 YEARS• Improved local hydrology

#IFOAMRio @IFOAMorganicEthiopia’s opportunities for change• Over 14 million smallholder farmers• 5,000 years of farmers’ knowledge and skills• Agro-biodiversity wealth – Vavilov Centre with over 190 crop species still cultivated – Great varietal diversity within crops – Very low use of external inputs, e.g. chemical fertilizer – Farmers’ dislike / distrust of debt• Governance in the hands of local communities

#IFOAMRio @IFOAMorganic Biodiversity IntensificationA few of Ethiopia’s sorghum varieties

#IFOAMRio @IFOAMorganic Origin of the Tigray ProjectIn mid-1990s, ISD asked by the Ethiopian Government for an alternative to the Sasakawa Global approach promoting increased use of chemical fertilizer, but suitable for only about 10% of the country--classified as high production potential areas• ISD established in 1996 to implement the Project “Sustainable Development and Ecological Land Management with Farming Communities in Tigray” = The Tigray Project

#IFOAMRio @IFOAMorganicEcological & Social Intensification Bylaws - communities restore local control Biological and physical water & soil conservation, through using multipurpose local trees, i.e. Sesbania and local grasses Managing grazing, stopping access to vulnerable land (watersheds), so grass, herbs and trees can grow Restoring soil fertility through compost, and helping farmers avoid debt paid for chemical fertilizer Mature compost Making Sesbania in flower compost

#IFOAMRio @IFOAMorganicEcological Intensification at LandscapeLevel, started in 1996, pictured in 2003 Pond Rehabilitated gullies Faba bean Sesbania trees and Composted fields long grasses growing tef, wheat and barley Rehabilitated biodiverse hillside for bee keeping

#IFOAMRio @IFOAMorganicThe 4 Principles of Organic Agriculture Applied• Ecology – restores and maintains ecosystem services (good soil, water availability, pollinators)• Health – maintains and restores both natural and agricultural biodiversity• Fairness – Involves all social groups in the local communities, women, men, disadvantaged groups such as elderly couples, landless youth, families challenged by HIV/AIDS, etc.• Care – the communities take responsibility for caring for their environment through bylaws

#IFOAMRio@IFOAMorganic

#IFOAMRio @IFOAMorganic Yield of Faba Bean with compost 2,500 kg/haYield of Faba Bean withoutcompost 250kg/ha

#IFOAMRio @IFOAMorganicGrain yield of 5 staple crops from farmers (2000 to 2006) Based on samples from 900 plots 4000 Check Compost Chemical fertilizer 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 Barley Durum wheat Maize Teff (n=741) Faba bean (n=444) (n=546) (n=273) (n=141) Crop (n=number of observations/fields sampled)

#IFOAMRio @IFOAMorganic Raised Yields from Ecointensificationthrough the use of organic fertilizer, particularly compost Average crop yields doubled and Percentage of grain (grain index) in harvested crop increased – Durum wheat: from 34% to 39% – Maize: from 33% to 43% – Sorghum: from 35% to 41% – Teff: from 32% to 36%

#IFOAMRio @IFOAMorganicWater-holding and infiltration capacity of soil increasedCrops survive dry gaps and stay green for 2weeks longer than others at the end of rainsWater tables raised (farmers dig shallow handdug wells)Springs reappear, streams persist and run forlonger through the yearFarmers grow 2 or more crops/year

High Yielding Resilient Organic #IFOAMRio @IFOAMorganic Agriculture• Organic systems have higher yields than conventional farming systems in weather extremes such as heavy rains and droughts. – (Drinkwater, Wagoner and Sarrantonio 1998; Welsh, 1999; Lotter 2004)• The Wisconsin Integrated Cropping Systems Trials found that organic yields were higher in drought years and the same as conventional in normal weather years. – (Posner et al. 2008)• The Rodale FST showed that the organic systems produced 30 per cent more corn than the conventional system in drought years. – (Pimentel D 2005, La Salle and Hepperly 2008)

#IFOAMRio Organic Matter Intensifies @IFOAMorgani Water Infiltration OrganicPicture: FiBL DOK Trials Conventional

Soil Organic Carbon Intensifies Climate #IFOAMRio @IFOAMorgani Change Mitigation and Adaptation • Higher corn and soybean yields in drought years • Increased soil C and N • Higher water infiltration • Higher water holding cap • Higher microbial activity • Increased stability

Soil Organic Matter #IFOAMRio @IFOAMorgani Living Carbon• Holds up to 30X its weight in water• Cements soil particles and reduces soil erosion• Increases nutrient storage & availability• Humus can last 2000 years in the soil Electron micrograph of soil humus

Ecointensification of #IFOAMRio @IFOAMorganic water retention Research Shows that Organic Systems use Water More EfficientlyVolume of Water Retained /ha (to 30 cm) in relation tosoil organic matter (OM):• 0.5% OM = 80,000 litres (common conventional level)• 1 % OM = 160,000 litres (common conventional level)• 2 % OM = 320,000 litres• 3 % OM = 480,000 litres• 4 % OM = 640,000 litres• 5 % OM = 800,000 litres

Ecointensification of #IFOAMRio @IFOAMorganic water retention Better infiltration, retention, and delivery to plants helps avoid drought damage Organic ConventionalPicture: Rodale Institute

#IFOAMRio @IFOAMorganic Livelihood benefits of ecological intensification with compostSoil and crops with increased resistance to windand water erosionFarmers avoid debt from getting chemical fertilizeron credit – now costing USD 80 per 100 kg– Farmers making bioslurry compost can sell one sack (approx. 100 kg for ETB 100 or USD 5.8– Competent farmers make 35 to 100 sacks a yearWomen say the food tastes better and their families’hunger is satisfied more easily

#IFOAMRio @IFOAMorganicImpact of compost on crop health &disease resistance Wheat infested with stripe rust and sprayed – gave yield of 1.6 t/ha Wheat grown on composted soil resisting the rust – gave yield over 6.5 t/ha

#IFOAMRio Planting with Space @IFOAMorganic Another example of ecointensificationAn adaptation of SRI, by growing in rows either from transplanting seedlings or direct sowing, givesIncreased yields with easier and timely management of weeds, pests and easier harvesting e.g. Finger millet and tef, seed rate reduced by 90% compared to broadcasting, hence more efficient use of seed resources, and Grain and straw yields doubled, i.e. for finger millet from 1.4 t/ha to 3 t/ha grain, and for tef from 1.2 t/ha to 2.5 t/ha or more of grain Because, root growth greatly increased giving many more productive tillers (greater root mass = greater shoot mass)

Participatory Planting with Space #IFOAMRio @IFOAMorganic

#IFOAMRio Ecological Intensification of @IFOAMorganic Tillering Potential – TeffTiller production increased At harvest impact of ecological intensification on biomass

#IFOAMRio Finger Millet & Sorghum yields @IFOAMorganic from 3 farmers Yield q/ha equivalent504540353025201510 5 0 Yehdegu Abay Giday G/Hair Laike Markos Giday G/Hair Finger millet Sorghum Lequa Sorghum has 1200 seeds per head

#IFOAMRioRearranging the cropping system for @IFOAMorganicpest and weed management

#IFOAMRioPush-pull in action…. @IFOAMorganic

ECONOMICS OF INTEGRATING EDIBLE #IFOAMRio @IFOAMorganic BEANS IN THE ‘PUSH-PULL’ SYSTEM (source Z Khan et al) 3.000 a 2.500 Maize monocrop Maize + Desmodium Maize + Desesmodium + bean same hole bCurrency (US$)-(1US$/65 KES) per ha. Maize + Desmodium + bean different hole 2.000 Maize + bean c d 1.500 a a b b c 1.000 d b b e a a a b c 500 b 0 Total labour costs Total variable costs Total gross revenue Net benefits d -500

#IFOAMRioThe way ahead is people-centred @IFOAMorganic

The Ecological way ahead is: #IFOAMRio @IFOAMorganicknowledge & people intensive• Improve and expand extension services (ICT)• Introduce capacity building (ICT)• Agriculture is very localizedwww.organicfarmermagazine.orgwww.infonet-biovision.org http://www.biovision.ch

#IFOAMRio @IFOAMorganicSocial Intensification

#IFOAMRio @IFOAMorganic Farmers as ToTs (training of trainers)• All trainings involve >50% farmers• Local experts as ‘advisors’• Development agents for monitoring, including recording yields• Fully participatory evaluation• Incentives for farmers – Improved tools – Involvement in training outside their own areas

Intensification of Women’s #IFOAMRio @IFOAMorganic Knowledge & Skills• Intensification of use of herb and spices• Medicinal plants• Meat (chickens, goats, sheep)• Processing milk for butter• Marketing & entrepreneurism• Biological control of pests• Generation of cash based income for family essentials (education, health, salt, sugar, coffee and tea)

#IFOAMRio @IFOAMorganic Scaling up and out in EthiopiaMaking and using compost incorporated into theMoA Extension for all crop growing areas, and toHelp combat climate change by applying compost to40,000 million hectares of cultivated land by 2015• National research institutes collaborating with farmers on: – Testing advanced lines of bread wheat in an compost- based organic system to identify the organic HYVs (as against costly NPK HYVs) – Next steps? • Participatory breeding in an organic system

Participatory Guarantee SystemsLaércio MeirellesCentro Ecológico - Rio Grande Do Sul.laerciomeirelles@gmail.comwww.centroecologico.org.br

PGS definitionParticipatory Guarantee Systems arelocally focused quality assurance systems.They certify producers based on activeparticipation of stakeholders and are builton a foundation of trust, social networksand knowledge exchange http://www.ifoam.org/about_ifoam/standards/pgs.html

Some PGS characteristics• Like the conventional certification programs,provide a credible guarantee for consumers. Thedifference is in the approach.• The participation of farmers and consumers (ifit’s possible) in the certification process isrequired.• The active participation of the stakeholdersresult in greater empowerment, but also a biggerresponsibility .

Some PGS consequences… good ones!!!• To allow access to the organic market;• Less burocracy• Facilitate the development of local markets• It is a work that promotes social organization;• Favors the building of Knowledge Networks• Strengthening relations between producers andconsumers

And… it’s going on!!!FRANCIA INDIA

Latin-American PGS Forum

#IFOAMRio @IFOAMorganicInfluencing national Ethiopia policy on research Wheat grown on Wheat grown with compost treated chemical fertilizers field and requiring spraying with fungicide

#IFOAMRioAU Framework Policies for @IFOAMorganicScaling-Up Organic AgricultureAfrican Union, Decision on organic farming in January 2011(EX.CL/Dec.621 (XVIII) / Doc. EX.CL/631 (XVIII)) requests theCommission and its New Partnership for Africa’s Development(NEPAD) Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA) to:Initiate and provide guidance for an African Union (AU)-led coalition of international partners on the establishment of an African organic farming platform based on available best practices; andProvide guidance in support of the development of sustainable organic farming systems and improve seed quality;

#IFOAMRio @IFOAMorganic Key Messages1. Africa CAN feed itself and provide food for peoplein other parts of the world2. Invest in Ecological and social intensification of alltraditional agriculture systems for healthy andsustainable food for all3. Mainstream globally Farmers’ Rights to save anduse their own seed, as in Ethiopia4. Build capacity for fully participatory researchand development with farmers to supportcomprehensive ecological organic agriculturesystems

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR FARMERSSue Edwards, with Tewolde Berhan GebreEgzibher Dereje Gebremichael, Hailu Araya, and Arefayne Asmelash Institute for Sustainable Development, Ethiopia sustaindeveth@ethionet.et / sustainet@yahoo.co.uk

http://unjobs.org	481
http://www.unjobs.org	3
http://search.mywebsearch.com	1

Learning Event No. 5, Session 1: Edwards. ARDD2012 Rio

by CCAFS | CGIAR program - Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security on Jun 18, 2012

Accessibility

Categories

Upload Details

Usage Rights

3 Embeds 485

Statistics

Learning Event No. 5, Session 1: Edwards. ARDD2012 Rio Presentation Transcript