Project Detail

Reducung Peristent Organic Pollutants and Land Degradation through Organic Production of Herbs and Spices in Zimbabwe

Small scale farmers in Juru and Svosve lack adequate knowledge about sustainable agriculture and value adding methods and reverse the on-going degardation. The improper use of agro-chemmicals have strong residual effects on the environment resulting in lower crop yields and a marked decrease in food security. Moreover, small scale farmers in Goromonzi and Svosve are not linked to export markets and have limited possilities of processing their products tto produce high value products. As a result they are trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty and heavy reliance on unaffordable inputs.

The overall goal of the project is to increase the capacity of local communities in Juru and Svosve to reduce the impact of persisten organic pollutants (POPs) and land degaradtionthrough the internationally certified organic production of herds and spices.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
1) To capacitate small scale farmers to follow particular agricultural practices the reduce the use of POPs and combat land degradation
2) To support farmers so that they are certified according to intrnational organic certification (COUNCIIL REGULATION (EEC) No 2092/: 1 of 24 June 1991)
3) To ensure that farmers are able to process high value organically certified herbs and spices on farm and gain long term economic benefits from the reduction of POPs

ACTIVITIES:
1) Stakeholder consultaion on farming practices and land degradation and training curricula for participating farmers
2) Training farmers in organic farming practices
3) Procurement of tools and equipment for organic farming practices
4) Installation of small scale irrigation systems to improve productivity
5) Certification of a minimum of 300 farmers according to IFOAM principles
6) Developing KAITE Internal Control Ststem fro participating communities
7) Training farmers in processing herbs, spices and Hazard Analysis Control Points (HACCP)
8) Construction of solar driers for processing grops

OUTPUTS
1) Organic farming training curriculla adjusted to specifc needs of communities
2) Farmers' knowledge on soil fertility and degradation increased
3) Minimum of 30 farmers organically certified
4) Participating farmers experience the difference in using KICS due to an increase in the level of production
5) 60 mobile driers in place an operational

OUTCOMES
1) All participating farmers with a minimum of 30 farmers stop the use of chemicals for farming
2) Organic farming as a form of sustainable agriculture is used by farmers, the soil structure of organically worked fields is improved and the productivity levels raised by a minimum of 40%
3) International organic markets receive high value organically certified herbs abd spices from small scale Zimbabwean farmers
4) Farmers income increased from organic farm production

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Project Snapshot

Grantee:

KAITE TRUST

Country:

Zimbabwe

Area Of Work:

Chemicals

Operational Phase:

OP4 - Y2 (Jul 08 - Jun 09)

Grant Amount:

US$ 49,997.50

Co-Financing Cash:

US$ 15,000.00

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 61,500.00

Project Number:

ZIM/SGP/OP4/Y2/CORE/2008/11

Start Date:

12/2008

End Date:

12/2010

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

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Project Characteristics and Results

Notable Community Participation

Community participation is fundamental to the success of the project, as the farmers themselves are directly responsible for ensuring that the project is a success. Throughout the project, participating farmers engage actively in quality control, process management and administration of the project.

Policy Influence

Given that the new agricultural policy of Zimbabwe supports sustainable agricultural methods, this project will be an important example of how such methods can be implemented at the grassroots level. The potential in Africa and particularly in Zimbabwe is huge and virtually untapped. The project area will thus become a central point and pilot for organic farming in Zimbabwe.

Policy Impact

Given the new agricultural policy in Zimbabwe that supports sustainable farming practices, this project will be an important example of how such methods of farming can be implemented. In Africa only 0.4 % is organic agriculture and more than 20% in Australia and New Zealand. Thus, the potential in AFrica and particularly Zimbabwe has not been fully exploited. The project will thus become a central point and pilot programme for organic farming in Zimbabwe.

Inovative Financial Mechanisms

It is the aim of KAITE TRUST to implement a revolving credit and saving scheme for the farmers. Also the project aill support farmers to have linkages with international markets.

Capacity - Building Component

Knowledge management and community leadership traininmg are some of the core activities . This ensures that participating farmers can better identify their own needs, acquire the neccessary skills to reinforce their capacity to implement the project.

Gender Focus

One of the approaches of the project is gender mainstreaming whereby there is emphasis on equal participation of both men and women. Most of the farmers are females since farming in most communities is done by women.

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

The environmental impact of the project at the local level will be marked in the soil improvement in the plots of the participating farmers. For example, composting and use of traditional plants in pesticide control will help to eliminate POPs which are washed into rivers whic further flow into international waters. The promotion of the global environment is within the project itself . Moreover, the project homepage, the newspapers and magazines help to raise awareness both locally and globally.

Project sustainability

The improvement in soil fertility resulting in better yields through the introduction of specialized organic farming methods, will ensure the long term ecological sustainability of the project. Moreover, the financial sustainability of the project is guaranteed since certified organic herbs and spices are low volume, easily storable, high price products, with minimal transport costs, and participating farmers will sell their produce at prices that are on average 20% higher than those of agricultural produce. Furthermore, key markets for certified products of these crops have already been established. There is also the involvement of the community in this project which is crucial for its sustainability.

Planning non gef grant

The project will also tap into other funding, so that it will grow dynamically over the planned implemetation period. KAITE is in contact with a variety of international organizations, such as the World Bank and the FAO to upscale the project. It is planned to finalise the first GEF project by the end of 2009. the next phase of the project as of 2010 shall include cooperation with other international partners and extend the project into other areas of Zimbabwe.

Replication of project activities

The project will be carried out initially in natural regions 2 and 3, but countrywide coverage is planned for the final implementation as of 2009, as it can be replicated in all areas of Zimbabwe where a minimum of irrigation water is available to grow herbs and spices on a small scale. Since the project outcomes may be replicated and scaled up not only by other development institutions, but also by private sector companies, the scope for a high developmental impact is particularly broad.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

The very tenets of organic farming result in improved production therby enhancing food security. Each participating farmer will earn up to us$750 or more in the first year for their organically certified herbs and spices.

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples

There are no indigenous people in the selected areas.

Planning gef grant

This project is designed specifically for implementation on a small scale, with the aim to expand the number of beneficiaries to 10,000 farmers by 2020. The scaling up of the project to medium size GEF funding will be followed in close cooperation and will be accompanied by intense information exchange with UNDP/GEF/SGP Zimbabwe.

Project Results

Farmers have been trained on organic principles and methods.

Farmers in Juru had already grown a crop (hot chillies) even though the water pumps had not yet been purchased.

The farmers in groups in two locations, work was done in conjunction with PELUM whose staff was on ground in both locations.

A lot of progress was made in training and enabled farmers to grow crops.

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