Re: [pronut-hiv] Uganda's Organic Fruits On High Demand in Europe (4)

["Stephanie White" <whitegomis@earthlink.net>]

Perhaps these links will be useful for your pursuit:
http://www.ifoam.org/---look especially at:
http://www.ifoam.org/newsletter/press_releases/East_African_Organic_Standard
.html

http://www.ocia.org/
http://www.ioas.org/

Best of luck, Stephanie White


----- Bego Cirera wrote:

> This sounds like good news for Uganda's organic farmers! I have a few
questions which I hope someone can answer: Why does Uganda have so much of
the organic farming in the continent of Africa, and what can other African
nations do to follow Uganda's footsteps? In addition, how many years does a
land have to be free of pesticides/synthetic chemicals before it can be
certified as organic in this country? Do the same rules apply to other
African countries?
>    
>   Thank you in advance. 
>    
>   B. Cirera
>   Organic Farmer
>
> -----ProNut-HIV <pronut-hiv@healthnet.org> wrote:
>   Uganda's Organic Fruits On High Demand in Europe
> New Vision (Kampala)
>
> March 8, 2006 
> John Kasozi
> Kampala 
>
> BEGINNING April, organic farmers in Masaka, Rakai and Ssembabule
> districts will jubilate because FARMEX, a food processing umbrella, will
> export 600 tonnes of fresh fruits every week to European Union (EU)
> countries.
>
> FARMEX comprises three community-based organisation; Suruma Foods in
> Luweero, COSEDA in Mpigi and Masaka Organic Producers.
>
> "We secured the tender to export fresh fruits to eight firms during the
> recent Fruit Trade Fair Logistical that ended on February 9 in Berlin,
> Germany, where Uganda's organic products attracted a lot attention,"
> said Josephine Aliddeki, executive director, St.Jude Family Projects in
> Masaka.
>
> "The aroma, colour, sweetness and size were a centre of attraction. No
> country can compete with our fruits," Aliddeki says.
>
> "Forty-six companies wanted organic fruits from Uganda, but we could
> only supply to eight companies. The first batch should be leaving to the
> Netherlands, Italy and France in March."
>
> They will also supply to companies in the UK, Switzerland and Norway.
>
> Most companies are interested in the big purple grafted passion fruits,
> pineapples, sweet banana, avocado, pepper, okra, sugarcane, Goa
> sugarcanes, vegetables, sweet potatoes and cocoyam. Uganda Revenue
> Authority has promised to assist the farmers by reducing the tax on
> packaging materials.
>
> Previously, EU companies were not importing uncertified organic
> products. But now, some have agreed to import uncertified organic
> products.
>
> Certified organic products are those crops grown without using chemicals
> and pesticides.
>
> The demand for uncertified organic products will increase the quantity
> of the fruits exported.
>
> According to the report proceedings of the Advocates Coalition for
> Development and Environment public policy dialogue series NO.4, 2004,
> Uganda leads in organic production in Africa. Uganda also has the
> potential to increase production by utilising the non-certified organic
> land.
>
> Out of the 40,000 certified farms in 22 countries in Africa, 50% are in
> Uganda, making it the only country with more than 1% of agriculture land
> under organic agriculture. Land under organic management in Uganda is
> 122,000 hectares comprising of 28,200 farms.
>
> "Farmers who are interested in growing fruits should contact us for more
> information. They should also form groups to make our work easier," says
> Aliddeki.
>
> She says she is more interested in dealing with women. More so, DANIDA
> (ASPS) has offered to meet the expenses for the organic certification of
> fruits grown by women who will be trained by St. Jude in Masaka and
> Rakai districts.
>
> DANIDA will cater for between 15-20 outgrowers. And certification will
> be conducted beginning in March. The fruits will be analysed to confirm
> that there are no chemicals applied.
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> "We do not inherit the Earth from our forefathers, we borrow it from our
children." 
>  
> "No heredamos la Tierra de nuestros antepasados, la prestamos de nuestros
hijos"
>  
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>  
> Think Globally, Garden Locally
>