As global temperatures rise and weather patterns become more erratic, the intersection between climate change and agriculture is crucial to understanding the role agriculture plays in contributing to and mitigating global warming.
The question of carbon sequestration, lower-input of fossil fuel dependant resources, and use of renewable energy all present opportunities for organic agriculture could lead to the way in reducing energy consumption and mitigating the negative effects of energy emissions.
Organic agriculture can provide management practices that can help farmers adapt to climate change through strengthening agro-ecosystems, diversifying crop and livestock production, and building farmers’ knowledge base to best prevent and confront changes in climate.
The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) in its publications affirms that promoting organic agriculture as an alternative approach normally do maximizes the performance of renewable resources and optimises nutrient and energy flows in agro-ecosystems.
Life cycle assessments show that emissions in conventional production systems are always higher than those of organic systems, based on production area, soil emissions of nitrous oxides and methane from arable or pasture use of dried peat lands can be avoided by organic management practices.
Many field trials worldwide show that organic fertilisation compared to mineral fertilisation is increasing soil organic carbon and thus, sequestering large amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere to the soil.
Lower greenhouse gas emissions for crop production and enhanced carbon sequestration, coupled with additional benefits of biodiversity and other environmental services, makes organic agriculture a farming method with many advantages and considerable potential for mitigating and adopting to climate change.
Soil building practices such as crop rotations, inter-cropping, symbiotic associations, cover crops, organic fertilizers and minimum tillage are central to organic practices.
These encourage soil fauna and flora, improving soil formation and structure and creating more stable systems, in turn, nutrient and energy cycling is increased and the retentive abilities of the soil for nutrients and water are enhanced, compensating for the non-use of mineral fertilizers
Such management techniques also play an important role in soil erosion control, because the length of time that the soil is exposed to erosive forces is decreased, soil biodiversity is increased, and nutrient losses are reduced, helping to maintain and enhance soil productivity.
The organic agriculture which is simply a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people, is currently growing more rapidly in Tanzania and it relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs with adverse effects.
Jordan Gama, the Chief Executive Officer for Tanzania Organic Agriculture Movement (TOAM), says large 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.
“A focus on renewable resources, soil and water conservation, and management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological balance, is a crucial aspect when one is to grow crops through organic system," asserts Gama, who is also a President of Africa Organic Agriculture Networks (AfroNet).
Currently the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) in collaboration with IFOAM – Organics International has positioned Tanzania among world top ten countries with the largest number of organic producers.
The World of Organic Agriculture, Statistics and Emerging Trends 2017, report, says India has become a number one with 585,200 certified producers, followed by Ethiopia 203,602, Mexico 200,039, Uganda 190,670, Philippines 165,958 and Tanzania with a registered and certified 148,610 producers.
TOAM coordinates and promotes, through networking and information dissemination, the development of the organic farming sector among smallholder producers for sustainable livelihoods in Tanzania. Membership includes farmer associations and co-ops, NGOs, organic operators, researchers, trainers and subscribed institutional members.
When you look past you see poverty, but there is a vivid justification of abilities, resources and desires, again you see the poor are extremely hardworking and entrepreneurial – they just need to survive, they don’t want or need to be rescued, but rather want an opportunity to create a better life for their families, says Gama.
“I can assure you that the organic agriculture sub-sector, is an answer to a long and everlasting solution to climate change, hunger, poverty and sustainable development to our people, it is an opportunity for everyone, concludes Gama, the TOAM CEO.
Story by Constantine Akitanda- Information and communication Advisor, Tanzania organic agriculture movement (TOAM)
