Why organic farming is sustainable, ensure healthy food

HAVE you ever thought of why our grandparents had prolonged lifespan in comparison to the current generations? The reason is simple.

They lived on organic foodstuffs, never ‘compromised’ with any factory-manufactured chemicals.

In a nutshell, they practised organic farming that is a method of agricultural production that excludes the use of synthetic substances, such as pesticides, synthetic medicines or fertilisers and genetically modified organisms.

Compared with conventional agriculture, organic farming uses fewer pesticides, reduces soil erosion, decreases nitrate leaching into groundwater and surface water and recycles animal wastes back into the farm.

These benefits are counterbalanced by higher food costs for consumers and generally lower yields.

Equally, it (organic farming) maintains and improves fertility, soil structure and biodiversity and reduce erosion.

It reduces the risks of human, animal and environmental exposure to toxic materials. Fine-tune farming practices to meet local production conditions and satisfy local markets.

Put in another way, organic agriculture reduces nonrenewable energy use by decreasing agrochemical needs (these require high quantities of fossil fuel to be produced).

Organic agriculture contributes to mitigating the greenhouse effect and global warming through its ability to sequester carbon in the soil.

With this background, it is kudos for the government to be advising and emphasising ecological farming- as it is the cornerstone of agriculture, fostering unity in production, consumer rights, biodiversity and environmental conservation of food sources.

Making the revelation during an interview at the Nanenane International Exhibitions in Dodoma recently, a Seed Expert from the Tanzania Biodiversity Network (TABIO), Daud Manongi said that if the government prioritises ecological farming, it will address concerns of many stakeholders involved in the sector.

He noted that ensuring farmers practice ecological farming will lead to long-term productivity and sustainable land use for future generations.

“We, the stakeholders of ecological farming, urge the government to emphasise ecological farming because it is the pillar of agriculture, fostering unity in production, consumer rights, biodiversity and environmental conservation of food sources,” he said.

Manongi, who is also the Chairman of the National Ecological Agriculture Stakeholders Task Force, said they participated in the exhibitions to demonstrate the contribution of stakeholders in this sector.

He highlighted that ecological farming significantly contributes to the agricultural sector, which involves over 65 per cent of Tanzanians.

He mentioned that recent climate changes have affected agricultural systems and the way to return to productive farming is through ecological farming.

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Elaborating, he added that ecological farming stakeholders carry the message that seeds are life, aiming to ensure all stakeholders participate in protecting, preserving and developing indigenous seeds, continuing the inherited legacy.

The expert stated that the exhibitions included 17 participants, namely TABIO, Tanzania Organic Agriculture Movement (TOAM), SJS Organic, McDonald, Inades, Floresta, IDP, KPC, Kijani Hai, Farm Radio International, Sustainable Agriculture Tanzania (SAT), Tanzania Farmers Federation (SHIWAKUTA), PELUM, Agroecology Hub Tanzania, Biovision Trust, Safari Organic Fertilizer and Via Agroforest.

Manongi said the ecological farming system ensures market certainty for produce both domestically and internationally.

TABIO Coordinator, Abdallah Mkindi, mentioned that as stakeholders in ecological farming, they will showcase various products resulting from this farming method.

Mkindi noted that they have brought over 80 types of indigenous seeds to the exhibition, which, if emphasised and given a special strategy, will lead to positive revolutions in the food system.

“We would like the government to emphasise natural pesticides to control plant pests, especially during this time of climate change challenges,” he said.

The coordinator also stated that they are using the exhibitions to ensure that the education on indigenous seeds is provided so that farmers can understand the benefits.

Assistant Project Manager of SAT, Daudi Gwabara, said they are using the exhibitions to demonstrate to the government and the public the benefits of ecological farming if given emphasis.

“We urge farmers and the government to start changing because evidence shows that modern farming is not productive. We should invest in ecological farming, which benefits human health, the soil and other living organisms,” he said.

Gwabara noted that industrial chemical-laden soil harms future generations’ harvests, so it is the right time to focus on organic farming. He mentioned that SAT involves 3,000 farmers nationwide, cultivating a total of 900 hectares.

TOAM Advocacy Officer, Paul Chilewa, said that among other things, as stakeholders of ecological farming, they want the government to implement the Ecological Agriculture Strategy launched last year, focusing on the availability of inputs, markets, technology research and dissemination of extension education.

“Our plea is for the government to start implementing the National Ecological Agriculture Strategy, which has shown the way to liberate farmers and consumers by allocating financial and human resources,” he said.

Source: Daily News