On October 26, 2024, the BAREA Mahamasina Stadium in Madagascar was alive with purpose and celebration. Hosted by GSDM and SYMABIO a Country Implementing Partner on the KCOA-KHEA Project, the two leading organizations championing sustainable agriculture in Madagascar, the event marked a dual celebration of World Food Day and International Rural Women’s Day. Together with several like-minded organizations, these partners came together to highlight the importance of food sovereignty, organic farming, and the invaluable contributions of rural women to socio-economic development. The day was not only a celebration but a powerful call to action toward a healthier and more sustainable future.

World Food Day, observed globally every October 16, focuses on the universal right to access nutritious food. This event underlined the importance of food security and sustainable agriculture, emphasizing the power communities have to produce food in ways that are healthy for people and the planet. Alongside this, International Rural Women’s Day shines a spotlight on the vital role of women in agricultural sectors worldwide. In Madagascar, where many women are the backbone of farming communities, this day served as an opportunity to celebrate their contributions and advocate for greater support and recognition.

Bringing Together Key Players: GSDM, SYMABIO, and the KCOA-KHEA Partnership

As Madagascar’s Country Implementing Partners for the KCOA-KHEA initiative, GSDM and SYMABIO have a shared mission: to promote organic farming and sustainable agricultural practices throughout the country. Their efforts focus on empowering local communities, protecting the environment, and promoting food sovereignty. At the celebration, these organizations shared their expertise and encouraged community members to rethink the ways they interact with food and farming, highlighting that sustainable agriculture can be both economically viable and environmentally responsible.

Highlights of the Day: An Interactive Celebration of Food and Farming
The day was packed with engaging and educational activities that captured the attention of residents from all walks of life:

• The Moving Car Initiative: A unique and interactive “organic caravan” was one of the day’s biggest highlights. This moving display, designed to catch the eyes of passersby, offered information on the benefits of organic food and agroecological practices. It served as a mobile classroom, educating the public on why organic products are better for health, soil, and biodiversity. Residents gathered around the caravan, intrigued by the display and eager to learn more about sustainable food options
• Public Engagement Through Fun Quizzes: To make the learning experience even more interactive, the organizers held quizzes on sustainable agriculture and responsible consumption. Participants were encouraged to answer questions, such as “What are the environmental benefits of organic farming?” or “How does agroecology improve soil health?” Winners were awarded eco-friendly prizes, including agroecological products (following PGS process with partners), reinforcing the message of sustainable living and responsible choices.
• Workshops on Organic Farming and Good Agricultural Practices: In a series of hands-on workshops, the GSDM/SYMABIO team introduced the public to practical tips on organic farming, sharing sustainable methods that require fewer chemicals and promote biodiversity. Attendees learned about the long-term benefits of these practices, not only for crop yields but for overall environmental health. Farmers and residents alike left with valuable insights, including new techniques to reduce chemical dependency and enhance soil fertility naturally.

The Essential Role of Women in Sustainable Development

A key theme of the event was the celebration of rural women in agriculture. In Madagascar, women play a central role in farming and food production, often managing small-scale farms that are crucial for community food security. The day honored their efforts, recognizing that women are not just caretakers of families but also protectors of the environment and champions of sustainable agriculture. Through discussions and speeches, the event highlighted the need for greater resources and support to empower these women, who are vital to advancing sustainability and resilience in the face of climate challenges

The organic caravan initiative drew an impressive turnout, sparking conversations on responsible consumption and the risks associated with conventional chemical use. For many, it was a first exposure to the health and environmental benefits of organic products, leaving a lasting impact. Local residents shared their excitement and expressed a newfound appreciation for organic food, recognizing its value not only as a healthier choice but as a pathway to a sustainable future.

As the day drew to a close, one message was clear: building a sustainable future is a shared responsibility. Thanks to the GSDM/SYMABIO consortium, Madagascar is making strides toward responsible agricultural practices that benefit people, the environment, and future generations. Through education, community engagement, and initiatives like the moving car and organic caravan, these organizations are fostering a culture of sustainability that brings Madagascar closer to achieving food sovereignty and environmental resilience.

This inspiring day celebrated community, empowered individuals, and underscored the importance of sustainable choices. Together, GSDM, SYMABIO, and their partners are paving the way for a healthier, more sustainable Madagascar—and inspiring others to join in the journey.

Success story collection – done by GSDM and SYMABIO – CIPs on the KCOA-KHEA Project in Madagascar. For more details on information in this article, please reach out to; ramahtovohery@gmail.com ,, razakamireille@yahoo.fr ,, tovohery.ramahaimandimbisoa@gsdm-mg.org

Edited, reviewed&uploaded by Magino Pamella-KHEA Communications Officer-PELUM Uganda and Biovision Africa Trust Kenya. See licence statement of all KCOA Content: https://kcoa-africa.org/licence-statement/ which also applies to all content from hubs implementing the KCOA project.

Biovision Africa Trust (BvAT), represented by Fredrick Ochieng, Head of the Farmer Communication Programme, recently took part in a planning workshop organized by FAO Kenya in Kapsabet town from October 22 to 25, 2024. The workshop aimed to bring together key stakeholders to strategize on the policy component of the BOOST Project, an EU-funded initiative committed to boosting sustainable food production in Kenya.

The workshop focused on promoting agroecological and innovative approaches to improve agricultural production in five counties: Kakamega, Bungoma, Nandi, Homabay, and Migori.

Key Objectives of the workshop included:

• Collaborative Policy Ideation: Brainstorming and prioritizing actionable policy recommendations to support agroecological practices.
• Action Plan Development: Establishing a clear action plan with timelines and responsibilities for counties to develop agroecology policies.
• Knowledge Sharing: Facilitating the exchange of successful agroecological practices and policies from different regions.

The workshop gathered County Directors, senior technical staff from the five project counties, and representatives from civil society organizations (CSOs), including BvAT, SNV, and Pelum Kenya.

During the sessions BvAT presented its ongoing work relevant to policy development initiatives, particularly in Bungoma and Kakamega counties where BvAT has direct operations. Murang’a and Vihiga counties also presented their experiences and lessons learned in developing agroecology policies. Together, participants created a policy implementation plan to help each county develop specific plans to be shared later with FAO.

BvAT engaged on side meetings with FAO Kenya staff to explore collaboration within the BOOST Project, particularly on implementing the capacity-building component. Another side meeting was held with Bungoma County officials who expressed interest to partner with BvAT to review their agricultural policy in order to integrate agroecological practices and develop an Agroecology Strategy under the BOOST Project.

BvAT’s active involvement in BOOST project activities will be crucial for fostering collaboration and identifying future project opportunities. The continued partnership with FAO Kenya positions Biovision Africa Trust as a vital player in promoting sustainable agricultural practices across Kenya’s counties.

Prepared by Fredrick Ochieng

Peris Kimanthi, a farmer from King’ang’a village in Makueni County, is among the many who have reaped the benefits of Regenerative Agriculture Project, implemented by Biovision Africa Trust in partnership with ENVIU. She shares her journey of transformation since learning about regenerative farming practices through on-farm training sessions.

By adopting technologies like water harvesting through terrace building, digging smile berms, mulching, and applying ash alongside manure, Peris has seen a significant boost in her farm’s productivity.

Regenerative agriculture is a holistic farming approach that focuses on restoring and enhancing the health of ecosystems, including soil, water, biodiversity, and the broader environment. It goes beyond sustainability by actively improving the land, rather than just maintaining its current condition.

Click the link above to watch Peris share her inspiring story of how regenerative agriculture has transformed her farm.

You can also visit our Youtube channel for this and more stories  

https://www.youtube.com/@biovisionafricatrust7995

Biovision Africa Trust (BvAT) is pleased to launch a new project critical to promoting organic trade titled, “Strengthening Regional Trade through Compliance with the East African Organic Product Standards (EAOPS),” funded by GIZ to run for 2 years beginning October 2024 in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. This project is part of the Alliance for Product Quality in Africa (AfPQ), a multi-actor-partnership of stakeholders of the European and African private sector, quality infrastructure and development cooperation. The AfPQ seeks to improve the quality of products from African countries, so that they comply with the demands of regional and international buyers. That way, exports can be increased, and value chains expanded, facilitating economic growth and job creation. AfPQ supports companies, mainly in the agro-processing sector, that are export-ready, or have willing buyers in destination countries, but have existing gaps in their QMS or lack voluntary standard certificates.

The East Africa trade project was officially launched during a four-day Inception and Exchange Workshop held at Pride Inn Paradise Hotel in Mombasa Kenya from 2^nd to 5^th, September 2024.  The workshop brought together 36 participants from a network of collaborating National Organic Agriculture Movements/Associations (NOAMs), National Bureaus of Standards, private companies trading within the eastern Africa region and globally, Certification Bodies, Farmers and Farmer cooperatives across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

The goal of the project is to ‘stimulate and promote inter-regional trade in East Africa by facilitating the adoption and sustainable use of the East African Organic Product Standards (EAOPS) in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda’. BvAT coordinates the project in East Africa to be directly implemented by the Kenya Organic Agriculture Movement (KOAN) of Kenya, National Organic Agriculture Movement of Uganda (NOGAMU) of Uganda, and Tanzania Organic Agriculture Movement (TOAM) collaborating closely with the quality assurance institutions. The workshop also included partners’ financial teams to familiarize themselves with the financial management of grant agreements and procurement procedures. Participants engaged in vital discussions, explored opportunities, and strategized on how to elevate the organic trade sector in East Africa.

Mr. Jan Miksch, the Project Manager GIZ Ethiopia, in his opening remarks was optimistic that the project would strengthen regional trade in eastern Africa and beyond adding that enhancing the use of the EAOPS by the project would be a great milestone. He thanked BvAT for coordinating the launch of the project through the inception and exchange sharing workshop. Ms. Jasmin Gohl, Project Manager at GIZ Alliances for trade in East Africa thanked Biovision Africa Trust for coordinating and hosting the 4-day workshop, adding that she looks forward to working with the partners.

In his welcoming remarks, Dr. David Amudavi, the Executive Director of Biovision Africa Trust expressed his appreciation to the GIZ team for approving the commencement of the project. He also acknowledged the presence of essential stakeholders crucial for the project’s success and especially KOAN of Kenya, NOGAMU of Uganda, and TOAM of Tanzania.

Dr. Amudavi highlighted that the workshop would tackle the important issue of boosting regional trade in East African organic products. He stressed the significance of leveraging the EAOPS to unlock the considerable potential of the regional organic market and emphasized that collaborative efforts would lead to the creation of a unified standard that promotes the growth of organic agriculture while ensuring sustainable development in the region.

Ms. Venancia Wambua, the Project Manager, in her remarks welcomed all participants to the workshop and thanked them for their participation in the workshop. She also presented an overview of the project and outlined the key project objectives: 1) Strengthening Regional Trade: The project aims to support 48 companies from Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania to capitalize on export opportunities, particularly within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA); 2) Enhancing Capabilities: The initiative aims for these 48 companies to fully comply with EAOPS, improving their regional trade practices; 3) Promoting Compliance: It is anticipated that at least 48 employees or farmers-24 of whom will be women-will demonstrate compliance with EAOPS in their trading activities; and 4) Supporting National Bodies: The project will enable national organic associations in the three countries to improve their services based on EAOPS certification for their members.

During the inception workshop, the East Africa partners led by the NOAMs developed Collaborative Action Plans that would strengthen stakeholder and partnership engagement between the NOAMs, National Bureau of standards, Certification bodies (CBs), Participatory Guarantee Farmer Groups (PGS). This collaboration will enhance organic trade within the easter Africa region and globally.

Key areas that were outlined in the action plan to support in the implementation of the EAOPS and Kilimohai mark included:

1. NOAMs to develop and operationalize MOUs with National Bureaus of Standards bodies.
2. Involve Certification Bodies, NOAMs and Bureaus of Standards bodies in annual organic promotion and trade activities.
3. Undertake joint advocacy activities to address non-tariff trade barriers.
4. Support in the review of the EAOPS whose review is ongoing by the East Africa Community with Uganda Bureau of standards (UNBS) taking lead
5. Undertake awareness creation across various mainstream, social media platforms on EAOPs as an important organic standard.
6. Review the procedures of registration of certification bodies
7. NOAMS and CBs to develop a Kilimohai traceability system for organic products
8. NOAMS and CBS to develop implementation of a business model for commercializing Kilimohai.
9. NOAMS to introduce organic production courses/modules in tertiary institutions

Additional ideas included creating a business model for commercializing Kilimohai, leveraging on the ongoing ecological agriculture and agroecology projects, introducing curricula on organic agriculture in education and training institutions, and utilizing social media to promote EAOPS and the Kilimohai mark. The participants also stressed the need for more media sponsorship for branding and promoting the Kilimohai mark.

In conclusion, Mr. Manaseh Oiro, Policy Advisor for the Alliances for Product Quality Kenya (AFPQ) expressed optimism that the regional partners will work together to make this project a success and lead to more important areas catalyzing further inter- and intra-trade. The workshop motivated the NOAMs to coordinate the review of the EAOPS and exercise that is currently ongoing within the East Africa Community and reactivating the Joint Management Committee (JMC). A collective commitment is essential to enhance regional trade through compliance with EAOPS, foster sustainable growth in the East African organic sector, and pave the way for future success.

Kilimo-Hai Mark

Kilimohai Organic^TM is the standard mark of Organic Certification in Kenya. Having it means that the product has been certified under East Africa Organic Products Standards. The mark of certification applies for Agricultural Inputs, Fresh and Dried farm produce and processed food product. Kilimo Hai – Making sure that you only buy authentic organic (kilimohaikenya.org)

Prepared  by BvAT AfPQ Project Team

In a bid to revolutionize agriculture and uplift the livelihoods of its residents, the County Government of Kitui, in collaboration with Biovision Africa Trust, has unveiled a new agroecology initiative. The project, titled “Enhancing Food and Nutrition, Market Linkages, and Resilient Livelihoods for Smallholder Farmers through Agroecology with a special focus on women and youth,”( The LDF Project ) was officially launched on 30th Aug 2024 in Kitui town.

The initiative aims to empower women and youth by promoting sustainable agricultural practices. By focusing on agroecology, the project seeks to enhance food security, improve nutritional outcomes, and bolster the resilience of smallholder farmers. It also aims to provide better market access for agricultural products.

During the launch, Dr. Stephen Mbaya Kimwele, Kitui’s Executive for Agriculture and Livestock, highlighted the crucial role of youth in the agricultural sector. He pointed out that agriculture accounts for 60-70 percent of employment opportunities in Kenya and urged young people to embrace farming as a viable means of improving their lives.

Dr. Kimwele also reaffirmed the County Government’s dedication to collaborating with development partners to uplift the people of Kitui, aligning with Governor Dr. Julius Malombe’s broader development agenda.

Expressing optimism about the project, Dr. David Amudavi, Executive Director of Biovision Africa Trust, spoke about its potential to transform agricultural practices in Kitui. He emphasized the importance of adopting agroecological methods, which are not only sustainable but also economically beneficial.

“This initiative is a key milestone in equipping smallholder farmers with the necessary knowledge and tools to boost productivity and ensure food security. By adopting agroecology, we are not just increasing yields but also promoting biodiversity and enhancing resilience against climate challenges,” Dr. Amudavi stated.

The project has set ambitious goals for Kitui County, including increasing the adoption of agroecological farming, establishing a revolving fund to support farmers, enhancing the capacity of smallholder farmers to manage resources, and improving access to markets.

The workshop, marking the beginning of this initiative, brought together various stakeholders, including NGOs, the Kenya Forest Research Institute (KEFRI), the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), and smallholder farmers. This collaboration reflects a unified effort to drive the success of agroecological practices in the region.

Prepared by  Nicholas wambua

Tanzania Organic Agriculture Movement (TOAM) a Country Implementing Partner on the KCOA-KHEA Project participated in the National Farmers Exhibition Week (NANE NANE) from the 1^st to the 8^th of August 2024. The main objective of TOAM’s participation in the NANE NANE was to promote Organic Agriculture and Agroecology innovations to optimize the health and productivity of interdependent communities of soil life, plants, animals, and people.

TOAM, leading the Agroecology Consortium Corridor, brought together diverse stakeholders to showcase innovations in organic farming. Government officials, policymakers, and researchers visited the corridor, recognizing the achievements in agroecology. Over 256 attendees engaged with the exhibits.

The Agroecology Consortium included partners such as Sustainable Agriculture Tanzania (SAT), PELUM Tanzania, SJS Organic Farm, Organic Inputs Partners as well as Market Actors and HELVETAS, among others. The consortium displayed a range of technologies and knowledge products, including indigenous seeds, bio-inputs, and organic agriculture products.

The agroecology/organic agriculture actors used the National Ecological Organic Agriculture Strategy to emphasize the benefits of ecological organic farming, including environmental sustainability, economic viability, and social well-being. The discussions covered policy support, research and innovation, market development, and capacity-building programs essential for the successful implementation of NEOAS.

Through dialogues, key discussions during the event included seed sovereignty and the role of indigenous seeds in sustainable agriculture. The consortium emphasized the benefits of ecological organic farming, including environmental sustainability and market development.

The KHEA Project supported 15 participants, including Multipliers, Master Trainer, farmers and project officers from Saint Joseph School (SJS) organic farm Centre of excellence on the KCOA-KHEA Project, enhancing networking and knowledge exchange.

Exhibits featured composting techniques, organic fertilizers, and innovative irrigation systems. Among other participants were the KCOA-KHEA Project Associate Partners like; Sustainable Organic Agriculture Tanzania (SAT) from Morogoro region, Floresta Tanzania from Kilimanjaro region, and Njombe Southern Highland Development Association (NSHDA) from Njombe region.

During the exhibition, TOAM showcased some knowledge products such as; 18 days Compost, BIM bokashi, CRN Carbon, BIM organic potassium, BIM organic DAP, Rabbit urine, and Fish Amino Acids.

TOAM and its partners used the platform to advance sustainable agricultural practices and advocate for policies supporting organic agriculture and agroecology in Tanzania.

Prepared by TOAM Edited by Pamella Magino

The 25th edition of FIER MADA took place at the Makis Andohatapenaka stadium, from 7 to 11 August 2024. In 25 years, visitors have become accustomed to see an exceptional experience for each edition, with discoveries, multi-sectoral innovations, commercial exchanges and knowledge.

GSDM and SYMABIO a Country Implementing Partner on the KCOA-KHEA Project, also professionals in Agroecology, participated for the 10th time this year 2024 through the ALEFA Agroecology and KCOA-KHEA Project.  It has been noted that the agricultural sector is regaining an important and crucial place in rural development. Farmers are panicking at the idea of making their farms as profitable as possible and making them resilient against climate change and the impacts of mining agriculture

During this event, the crowd visited the GSDM stand for technical advice, sharing of experiences and acquisition of various seeds. This saw the passage of different farmers from all regions of Madagascar.

A technician and a farmer leader of the ALEFA project received the visitors in the stand where they shared the knowledge and opportunities linked to the adoption of good agricultural practices, in general, the agroecology. Conservation agriculture and soil fertilization also attracted the attention of visitors. Many of them returned every day during the fair to acquire as much practical advice as possible. Organic farming was also mentioned during this event, a theme which interests more and more farmers, mainly because of the use of non chemicals products on crops.

During the fair, the KCOA-KHEA Project highlighted the promotion of knowledge products on agri-bio by supporting the participation of the “Entraide et Fraternity” consortium. These are partner organizations hosting some of the KHEA Multipliers who have benefited from training through the KCOA-KHEA Project, made up of CARITAS Antsirabe, FTM/CPM and the ST BENOIT Fénérive-Est Center.

Prepared by GSDM Edited by Pamella Magino