Chemicals

1.0 THE PROBLEM The project is going to be implemented by farmers whom Organic farming Network worked with in phase 1 in Manicaland province in Chirimutsitu ward 17 Of Makoni District., Serengeti 5 of Tandi, Tandi and Chitsva areas of ward 12 for certified and accredited organic farmers including certified Eco tourism and agro forestry. There is an urgent need for a solution to curb food insecurity and environmental degradation. soil erosion is high and the intuitive use of agro-chemicals particularly for tobacco, which has left many areas with infertile and high POPs. experiences suggest that many rural and marginalized areas are resource poor and their areas have infertile soils, rapidly degrading environment currently hastened by population pressure, improper use of agro chemicals and erratic rainfall. 2.0 PROJECT GOAL To bring the practice of organic farming as a reality on the ground in selected urban and rural communities by adopting self sustaining organic agricultural practice that works in partnership and harmony with nature based on minimum external inputs in accordance with the code of practice for certification and accreditation to IFOAM and ISO65 Codes 3.0 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES 1. Strengthened capacity for selected rural annd urban communties to prcatice organic farming prcatice for the elimination of POPs and biodiversity conservation 2. Enhanced capacity for local rural communities to access local and international organic markets for organic certified farmers for sustainability to benefit 500 farmers. 3. Developed farmer resource center for testing residual chemicals , persistent organic pollutants, wider gene bank and information resource center. 4.0 PROJECT ACTIVITIES 1. Review visits and intensification of use of organic farming practice to IFOAM code of practice and demarcation of buffer zone 2. Conducting refresher courses to 300 farmers on scaling up organic farming 3. Farmers are trained in organic control systems 4. Farmers trained in organic farming standards 5. Farmers trained in results based quality management systems for organic farming marketing 6. Field day on internal control systems and organic farming standards. 7. Preliminary certification program for internal control systems of organic farming standards 8. Conduct final certification organic farming with accredited certifying board 5.0 PROJECT RESULTS 1. Increased biodiversity and reduced level of agrochemicals in farmers produce and processes of production 2. Improved socio economic standards of men and women practicing organic farming 3. Certified farmers 4. Increased gene bank 5. Increased capacity and understanding of relevance of the resource center by local community

Zimbabwe