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.
In close cooperation with the 66 IFOAM member organizations in 22 African countries and the IFOAM AOSC advisory committee, the new office will serve as the taking-off point for strategic efforts to facilitate growth and development of the African organic sector.
Chido Makunike, a recognized leader in the African environmental and organic initiatives is leading the charge. He 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.