can africa feed her children. su kahumbu green dreams/fnea ltd [email protected]
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In 2005 - 800m people in developing In 2005 - 800m people in developing countries suffered from malnutrition countries suffered from malnutrition whilst 1 billion in developed countries whilst 1 billion in developed countries (mainly the US) suffered from Obesity. (mainly the US) suffered from Obesity. ((Michael Pollan in Omnivores Dilemma)Michael Pollan in Omnivores Dilemma)
The diets in both the groups The diets in both the groups mentioned above depend largely on mentioned above depend largely on one crop-Corn. one crop-Corn.
Diversity within our diets provides Diversity within our diets provides nutritional diversity and thus great nutritional diversity and thus great health. Diversity is the cornerstone of health. Diversity is the cornerstone of OrganicOrganic production. production.
Organic Agriculture in a nutshell.Organic Agriculture in a nutshell.
Holistic approach to agriculture recognising, Holistic approach to agriculture recognising, appreciating, working with and complimenting appreciating, working with and complimenting natures intricate balances.natures intricate balances.
The most important aspect of Organic agriculture The most important aspect of Organic agriculture is is soil healthsoil health..
Healthy soils produce healthy crops. Simple Healthy soils produce healthy crops. Simple
FACT: Soil fertility increases with addition of FACT: Soil fertility increases with addition of organic matter and decreases with addition of organic matter and decreases with addition of synthetic fertilizers resulting in non productive synthetic fertilizers resulting in non productive soils. The Green revolution will sink Africas soils. The Green revolution will sink Africas farmers into debt UNLESS it harnesses green farmers into debt UNLESS it harnesses green technologies. technologies.
Green Dreams farm Tigoni 1999Green Dreams farm Tigoni 1999
The Organic Shop – Speciality Shop
Certified Organic in urban supermarkets and green grocers-premium pricedNB Consumption of organic not limited to the elite, tons of ‘Non certified’ organic products sold in rural markets every day
Garbage to food in 105 days in Africas largest slum !
Kibera Youth Reform Group Organic farm in Kibera provides organic vegetables to the surrounding community.
Contact Moha +254 721 163 719
Small scale organic Small scale organic producersproducers
Profile of organic Small Scale Producers.Profile of organic Small Scale Producers.
Average age 50yrs Average age 50yrs Average size of farms : 2 acresAverage size of farms : 2 acres Mode of production: Rain fed irrigationMode of production: Rain fed irrigation Financially challenged –many cannot afford Financially challenged –many cannot afford
synthetic inputssynthetic inputs Organic input material rich – Have access to Organic input material rich – Have access to
biodegradable materials and animal manures biodegradable materials and animal manures thus are capable of increasing soil fertility thus are capable of increasing soil fertility sustainably and affordably almost year round.sustainably and affordably almost year round.
New technologiesCost effective drip irrigation
Soil Fertility-Compost MakingSoil Fertility-Compost Making
VermicultureVermiculture
Farmers have access to TOF magazine, TOF Radio, i-TOF centers and infonet internet platform educational tools as well as support from organic institutions .
For Africa to feed herself, we For Africa to feed herself, we need to reinvent agriculture need to reinvent agriculture with an emphasis on with an emphasis on attracting the Youth to work attracting the Youth to work hand in hand with the hand in hand with the farmers/landowners farmers/landowners providing them with agri providing them with agri
services.services.
Modern day risks of pesticides to farmers, Modern day risks of pesticides to farmers, wildlife and the environment.wildlife and the environment.
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Pics courtesy of http://stopwildlifepoisoning.wildlifedirect.org
Consumers and tax payers bear the costs.Consumers and tax payers bear the costs.
Kenya’s The Standard newspaper on Friday, 30 Oct 2009 reported Kenya’s The Standard newspaper on Friday, 30 Oct 2009 reported death of 3 year old Nelson Kimutai on Monday, 26 October 2009. death of 3 year old Nelson Kimutai on Monday, 26 October 2009. Baby Nelson mistakenly injested Furadan, a lethal pesticide still widely Baby Nelson mistakenly injested Furadan, a lethal pesticide still widely used in Kenya yet banned in most parts of the world. used in Kenya yet banned in most parts of the world.
Poisoning of fish in Lake Naivasha- a mystery solved by the CEO of Poisoning of fish in Lake Naivasha- a mystery solved by the CEO of FPEAK? Conflict of interest .FPEAK? Conflict of interest .
Illness in flower farms due to pesticide poisoning simply upon contactIllness in flower farms due to pesticide poisoning simply upon contact Thousands of Indian farmers have committed suicide to date due to Thousands of Indian farmers have committed suicide to date due to
financial stresses caused by an agricultural system that does not work, financial stresses caused by an agricultural system that does not work, Africa should learn from history.Africa should learn from history.
How safe is conventional agri really? It is a short sighted production How safe is conventional agri really? It is a short sighted production method enriching the big business input providers resulting in method enriching the big business input providers resulting in value value depletiondepletion of food, health and environment. of food, health and environment.
Future real Green Future real Green PoliciesPolicies African Governments need to African Governments need to
recognise the diverse benefits of recognise the diverse benefits of organic production as one of the organic production as one of the safest , affordable and most safest , affordable and most sustainable solutions to not only sustainable solutions to not only continental food security but also continental food security but also ‘positive’ climate change. They need ‘positive’ climate change. They need to develop policies that promote and to develop policies that promote and incentivise organic agriculture. incentivise organic agriculture.
Eating is an agricultural act. Eating is an agricultural act. Wendell BerryWendell Berry
How and what we eat determines to a great extent the How and what we eat determines to a great extent the use we make of the worlduse we make of the world
Michael Pollan –Michael Pollan –Omnivores DilemmaOmnivores Dilemma
We’re still eating the leftovers of World War twoWe’re still eating the leftovers of World War two Vandana ShivaVandana Shiva
Thank YouThank You
Su Kahumbu Su Kahumbu Green Dreams, Food Network East Africa LtdGreen Dreams, Food Network East Africa Ltd [email protected]@organic.co.ke +254 721 100 001 +254 721 100 001 www.greendreams.edublogs.orgwww.greendreams.edublogs.org
Food For Thought