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Poorer farmers benefit most from organic practices
February 12, 2002Farmers in developing countries are reaping the benefits of adopting 'green' agricultural practices far more than their western counterparts, suggests a report published today, Thursday 14 February 2002.
The report by Nicolas Parrott at Cardiff University's Department of City and Regional Planning will be launched by German Agriculture and Environment Minister Renate Kunast, together with Greenpeace and the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM) at the Biofach 2002 conference in Nuremburg at 3.00pm on 14 February.
Case studies show that:
* In Madhya Pradesh, India, average cotton yields on farms participating in the Maikaal Bio-Cotton project are 20 per cent higher than on neighbouring conventional farms.
* In Madagascar, SRI (System of Rice Intensification) has increased yields from the usual 2-3 tons per hectare to yields of 6, 8 or 10 tons per hectare.
* In Tigray, Ethiopia, a move away from intensive agrochemical usage in favour of composting has seen an increase in yields and in the range of crops it is possible to grow.
* In Brazil, the use of green manures and cover crops has increased yields of maize by between 20 per cent and 250 per cent.
* In the highlands of Bolivia, the use of bonemeal and phosphate rock and intercropping with nitrogen-fixing Lupin species have significantly contributed to increases in potato yields.
The author, Nick Parrott of Cardiff University says:
"The Real Green Revolution' shows how organic and agroecological farming can significantly increase yields for resource poor farmers, improve food security and sustain and enhance the environmental resources on which agriculture in the South depends.
"It argues for an increase in funding for research and extension services for the organic sector and developing innovative ways of promoting knowledge transfer between local producer groups."
Greenpeace says:
"This exciting new report makes clear that organic agriculture and agroecology can meet the requirements of the world's population but it should be embedded in the fabric of local communities and environments.
"Agriculture needs to work with and respect the local environment and respect the 'services' it can provide - not try to dominate and subdue it. It's difficult to see how this kind of agriculture can ever be provided for by ever-fewer multinational corporations based in far-away countries, intent upon seizing 'intellectual rights ' to seeds and agricultural resources."
International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM) says:
"The report elaborates on an aspect of the organic concept that is less known, i.e. the wide-spread implementation of organic and agroecological approaches in developing countries, not targeting a premium market, but local communities. The report demonstrates in a convincing way how well adapted organic agriculture is for making a real difference for the poor of the world"
-ends-
Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Paris (IRD)
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