Zambia is set become the focal point of Africa’s organic agriculture industry at the beginning of May when it plays host to the second edition of the African Organic Conference
The conference will focus on the theme of ‘mainstreaming organic agriculture in the African development agenda’ and will attempt to move forward discussions on the topic between intergovernmental organisations and development partners.
The event, which will take place from May 2-4, 2012, in Lusaka, has promised to provide evidence of the benefits of organic agriculture and its contributions to the challenges facing Africa.
Successful organic agriculture-related projects and case studies from all over Africa will be presented at the event. These will include presentations on biodiversity and seed production, livestock, climate mitigation and food security.
Participants will also have the opportunity to share their experiences in the marketing and trade of organic products, and will discuss how organic guarantee systems could support local, regional and external trade.
Former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda, who will speak at the conference, said, “Organic agriculture is extremely important in human life, but it is something which has not been organised in a way it is supposed to be to become more meaningful.
“The food we eat today is grown without real love and care for human life,” he remarked.
The conference has been arranged in collaboration with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), the FAO and the Organic Producers and Processors Association of Zambia (OPPAZ).
The event has received the support of a host of international development and government organisations including COMESA, the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Swedish Cooperative Centre Regional Office (SCC) for Southern Africa.
Wallace Mawire
