Ifoam picks Tanzania 2nd largest producer of organic food in Africa

Tanzania is Africa’s second producer of organic food after
Uganda, according to International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement (Ifoam).

Worldwide, the country ranks fourth in production and exportation of organic food with 186’537 ha of organic land in 2012 compared to 72’188 ha in 2008.

In its latest report that was released early this month, the German - based organisation notes that Uganda takes the lead with the most organic land in Africa (231’157 ha), while Ethiopia comes third (164’777 ha).

In Africa, there were 1.1 million ha of certified organic agricultural land (data 2012).This constitutes about three percent of the world’s organic agricultural land. 

The report says the majority of certified organic produce in Africa is destined for export markets, citing European Union (EU), as the major recipient of these exports. 

“The growth is remarkable,” said Tom Sikar, Tanzania Agri-Hub coordinator for Tanzania Organic Agriculture Movement (TOAM) in a phone interview yesterday.

Sikar attributed Tanzania’s performance to its having a high number of certified organic farmers as well as favourable climate and good soil.
He called on farmers to practice organic farming as it’s free from genetic modification.

 He underlined the importance of organic farming as more profitable.

 “Organic food can’t be grown with genetically engineered seeds,” he noted.

 “Other advantages of organic farming are nontoxic chemicals applied which increases biodiversity,” he said.

Tanzania’s nine most exported organic products are vanilla, pineapple, cocoa, coffee and spices including lemon grass, cloves, cardamom, pepper and cinnamon.


source:the guardian