Status of Organic Farming in Ethiopia

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Status of Organic Farming in Ethiopia

• International Symposium on Organic Agriculture
  and Africa Opportunities and Challenges for the
  Future
• Feb 23,2008 Shanghai Room, CCN Ost, Biofach Fair,
  Nürnberg Messe, Nuremberg, Germany

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ContentsCountry DescriptionReasons to support
organic Organic data Organic actors and
operatorsOrganic policy, research and
extensionMajor challenges and opportunities
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Country Description

• Ethiopia is a landlocked country in the
  northeast of Africa
• is often referred to as the Horn of Africa
• with an area of 1.3 millions km2
• has over 75 millions people
• over 85 live in rural areas
• truly a country of small scale farmers (average
  1ha)

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Continued

• Agriculture accounts for more than 45 GDP and
  75 of the total export is from Agriculture
• Climatic conditions favour the country to grow
  wide range of crop
• the farming system characterised by little
  agro-chemicals
• There is unexplored potential in the agriculture
  sector

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Reasons to support organic

• The term organic agriculture in Ethiopia
• production systems with no application of
  synthetic inorganic sources for yield enhancement
  with or without certification of the products
• Organic agriculture has been introduced and
  promoted for
• food security,
• better natural resource conservation and
• better export market access more than fourteen
  years ago

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Organic Data

• There are both certified and organically grown
• There is around 141,374 ha of lands certified
• Total production is around 41,462 tonnes
• 105,325 farmers are certified organic
• The major organic products are
• Coffee
• Sesame
• Honey and bee wax
• Herbal tea( mainly for export)
• Vegetables
• Processed food( mainly for domestic market)

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Organic actors and operators

• The private sectors are taking the lead followed
  by NGO and GO
• Ethiopian Association of Organic
  Agriculture(EAOA) is an umbrella organisation
• Vision to
• Increased incomes and improved livelihoods
• With mission to
• coordinate and promote O.A,
• networking and marketing.
• unite producers, processors, traders, consumers,
  trainers and other stakeholders

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Stakeholders and Organic Policies

• There are 17 exporters, 1 food processor and 1
  organic restaurant.
• There are 4 certification bodies (BCS, IMO,
  Control Union and CERES)
• And 4 advisory services
• Organic policies
• Has organic agriculture production system
  proclamation since 2006
• No local standard
• No local certification bodies
• There is strong interest and support in organic
  research
• The extension system is showing progress

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Major challenges and opportunities

• Major challenges are
• Lack of awareness about organic concepts
• Lack strong extension service
• Shortages of inputs
• Major opportunities
• Respect tradition and farmers knowledge
• Premium price
• Require low input
• Require high labour