ProAfrica and Biological Agriculture

Small scale farmers and communal horticulture gardens in Zimbabwe are working since generations with only little input of fertilizer, pesticides and modified seed (Hybrid). Due to less possibilities of marketing opportunities, cash crop production people are normally operating for the own household level and the markets around the villages. Most of the farmers and gardens are, because of the economic situation, forced to work with the natural resources available in the nearby environment.

Methods such as compost building, biological farming with crop rotation, intercropping and soil conservation are not new for the farmers and have been used since generations in the rural area.

Pro-Africa introduced the organic farming in the projects as standard procedure in agriculture promotion and was not astonished to learn from the farmers the long existing methods and experiences in organic farming. By taking the “bottom to top” approach and learning by doing, a lot of experiences were reported by the farmers as well. Facts, like soil quality, water availability and climate, the field situation can differ from project to project. Nevertheless, all projects are in a similar situation, with no access to extend supply of inputs (seed, fertilizer, and herbicide) and no market access.

Many small farm holders and horticulture gardens have not benefit from using chemical fertilizers and pesticides as they are caught in the debt trap due to the high cost of those fertilizers, lack of credit, poor access to markets, and lack of investible surplus.

An alternative approach to manage agriculture known as community managed sustainable agriculture (CMSA) is therefore being used by Pro-Africa. This approach replaces the use of chemical pesticides with a combination of physical and biological measures-including, eco-friendly bio- pesticides- and complements it by adopting biological and agronomic soil fertility improvement measures leading to reduced use of chemical fertilizers. This has significantly reduced the cost of cultivation, the need for large amounts of credit, and indebtedness that results. These transformational changes have been achieved without significantly reducing the productivity and yields for the participating farmers.

As a logical consequence of that situation, Pro-Africa is promoting, teaching and implementing in 90% of the projects organic farming. Organic agriculture is a whole system approach based on a set of processes resulting in a sustainable ecosystem, safe food, good nutrition, animal welfare and social justice. Organic production therefore is more than a system of production that includes or excludes certain inputs.

Pro-Africa is a member of ZOPPA (Zimbabwe Organic Producers Partner Association), and cooperates to establish organic standards for the farmers and the organization.

1. ZOPPA: http://www.zoppa.org.zw/index.php?pid=2

For the time being, Pro-Africa orientates the training on the standards given by the EC and Naturland, a German based Organic Producer Organization. All trainings and workshops follow a syllabus, divided in training modules to introduce all parts of organic farming. It is an ongoing process to modify the training material and to adjust the modules due to the experiences on the farm. Exchanges (farmer to farmer) and best practices on the spot are promoted and applied from project to project, wherever synergic effects are possible and useful.

2. NATURLAND: http://www.naturland.de
Further information : NATURLAND STANDARDS JULY 2002 (pdf, 423k), NATURLAND QUALITY THROUGHOUT THE WORLD (pdf)

Pro-Africa will continue supporting farmers and garden projects long after the project financial support by donors has ended. 10 years of support and intensive care after is possible, as Pro-Africa is using a holistic approach, taking the sustainable component very seriously and able to manage a low budget for the long term support of the projects.

Due to the fact that nearly all villagers have no extensive access to un organic fertilizer, pesticides and fungicides it was highly understandable and a logical consequence, that the projects are operating in biological Agriculture.

What is Biological Agriculture?

Biological Agriculture understands the necessity for a balanced relationship between the three aspects of the soil, namely the physical, chemical and biological to sustain life. Everything comes from the soil and returns to the soil - it is a living system alive with trillions of organisms that recycle nutrients and sustain life.

How we are managing the soil and microbial life determines not only the health and vitality of the food but the health of the society in which we are living.

Biological farming is about looking at the whole agronomical, environmental picture, nutritional and biological components of what constitutes a healthy soil.

Biological Farming combines the best of conventional and organic farming with an emphasis on attaining naturally productive soils that display high levels of biological activity. The main purpose is to maximize the activity of soil microbes through the provision of good soil nutrition and structure, together with adequate supply of energy, air and water.

Biological farming is using modern technology and new methods, but uses only those that do not interfere with natural systems and do not cause harm down the road.

Biological farming aims at attaining balance between the physical, chemical nutrients and biological facets of the soil aided by improved organic carbon content. Measuring, planning, changing, and taking control of these three aspects give a more complete view of soil fertility and a greater degree of control over the growing environment.

Biological farming is the form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost and biological pest control to maintain soil productivity and control pests on a farm. Organic farming excludes or strictly limits the use of manufactured fertilizers, pesticides (which include herbicides, insecticides and fungicides), plant growth regulators such as hormones, livestock antibiotics, food additives, and genetically modified organisms.[1]

Biological agricultural methods are internationally regulated and legally enforced by many nations, based in large part on the standards set by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), an international umbrella organization for organic farming organizations established in 1972[2]. IFOAM defines the overarching goal of organic farming as:

"Organic agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs with adverse effects. Organic agriculture combines tradition, innovation and science to benefit the shared environment and promote fair relationships and a good quality of life for all involved.."

• The productivity of a soil can never be greater than the plant food element in least supply.
• A healthy soil system contains very high microbial activity to naturally recycle nutrients.
• Biological agriculture provides a unique approach to sustainable and profitable agricultural production through the use of biological farming techniques.
• Soils have been so highly degraded that they struggle to support plant and animal health let alone enhance water and air quality and human health.

Benefits of Biological Agriculture

• Looks at the whole agronomic, environmental picture in relation to balance and profitability;
  Returns the soil to a balanced living system, improving soil structure and fertility in a least toxic manner;
• Dramatically reduces or even eliminates chemical dependency, while at the same time increasing yields, quality, soil fertility and profitability;
• Ensures that farms become more sustainable, a safer workplace for employees with reduced use of chemicals;
• Restores the mineral and microbial balance in the soil and increases soil carbon levels;
  Increases water holding capacity of the soil;
• Reduces the need to depend on high analysis fertilisers, chemicals, pesticides, insecticides and fungicides;
• Reduces disease levels, insect, pests and soil erosion. Weeds and insect pests are becoming resistant to chemicals. Bigger weeds – stronger chemicals;
• Reduces the leaching of nitrogen and phosphorus into our waterways;
• Aids in the production of nutrient dense food for animals and humans;
• Helps reduce human health problems, which have been linked to conventional farming;
• Leaves our soil in a healthy balanced state for future generations.