Chemicals

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

Zimbabwe