A landmark step towards strengthening youth participation in Africa’s agrifood systems transformation was achieved during the Youth in Agroecology and Leadership Transformation at the continental YALTA Youth Summit, co-organized by the PELUM Association, BvAT, and partners under the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) supported Agroecology Promotion Program (APP). The summit brought together young agroecology champions, policymakers, development partners, civil society organizations, researchers, and entrepreneurs from across the continent to discuss the future of youth-led agroecology and the implementation of the Kampala CAADP Agenda.

Compiled by:
Alex Mutungi
AU EOAI Africa Secretariat Coordinator

Nairobi, Kenya,22nd – 23rd July 2026 — The Knowledge Hub for Organic Agriculture and Agroecology in Eastern Africa (KHEA) participated in the 3rd National Agroecology Symposium, organized by PELUM Kenya, bringing together farmers, researchers, policymakers, civil society organizations, development partners, and agroecology practitioners to advance conversations on sustainable food systems transformation.

Held under the theme of strengthening collaboration, innovation, and action for agroecology, the symposium provided a platform for stakeholders to share experiences, showcase innovations, and explore pathways for scaling agroecological practices across Kenya and the wider Eastern African region.

KHEA’s participation reflected its commitment to strengthening regional networking and linkages, facilitating knowledge exchange, and connecting actors working to promote organic agriculture and agroecology.

Connecting actors for agroecology advancement

As a regional knowledge hub, KHEA plays a key role in bringing together diverse stakeholders within the agroecology ecosystem, including farmers, multipliers, practitioners, researchers, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and development partners.

The symposium provided an opportunity for KHEA to engage with partners, share knowledge resources, strengthen existing collaborations, and identify opportunities for joint action towards advancing sustainable agricultural practices.

Through these engagements, KHEA continues to support platforms that enable learning between countries, promote farmer-led solutions, innovations, and strengthen linkages between knowledge generation and practical application.

Showcasing knowledge and promoting learning

During the symposium, KHEA Master Trainer, Samuel Ndungu contributed to discussions highlighting the importance of knowledge sharing, evidence-based approaches, and collaboration in accelerating the transition towards resilient food systems.

The event provided valuable insights into emerging innovations, farmer experiences, policy developments, and practical approaches that can support the scaling of agroecology.

These conversations align with KHEA’s mandate of improving access to relevant knowledge, strengthening capacities, and supporting the exchange of experiences among actors across Eastern Africa.

Strengthening partnerships within the agroecology movement

The symposium also reinforced the importance of collaboration among small and medium circular economy entrepreneurs,  farmer networks, government institutions, research organisations, and development partners.

As part of the PELUM network, KHEA’s engagement highlighted the value of collective action in advancing agroecology and strengthening farmer-centred approaches across the region.

By creating spaces for dialogue, learning, and partnership building, events such as the National Agroecology Symposium contribute to a stronger and more connected agroecology movement.

Showcasing AE Innovations

Through the exhibition booths, BvAT through its programs, FCP, KCOA-KHEA, APP and the AE entrepreneurs exhibited agroecological innovative approaches. The organic composter that produces compost as well as compost “tea” was one of the low cost, effective and easy to use technology by both small scale and large-scale famers.    The growing momentum around agroecology demonstrates the importance of working together to address challenges affecting food systems, including climate change, soil degradation, biodiversity loss, and the need for sustainable livelihoods.

Through continued networking, knowledge exchange, and partnerships, KHEA remains committed to supporting stakeholders in Eastern Africa to access information, share innovations, and collaborate towards sustainable agricultural transformation.

KHEA invites farmers, researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and partners working in agroecology and organic agriculture to connect, share knowledge, and collaborate in strengthening sustainable food systems across the region.

Compiled by:

By KHEA Communications Officer – Magino Pamella and KHEA Project Manager – Francis Nsanga

In Tiaty, Baringo County, a community-led restoration effort is showing how bringing native grasses back to degraded land can restore pasture, improve soil health, human health and create new opportunities for pastoralist families.

At sunrise in Atulayan village, the road tells a familiar story.

Herds of livestock move in search of pasture, following shepherds across a landscape that has endured years of increasingly erratic weather. Drought has stripped the land of vegetation, while intense rainfall has brought flash floods, accelerating soil erosion and further degrading already fragile rangelands.

For pastoralist communities, the consequences extend beyond the environment.

When pasture and water disappear, families are forced to move in search of grazing. Competition over limited resources can increase tensions and, in some cases, trigger conflict.

But in one corner of Tiaty, a different story is taking root.

On a 16-acre piece of land in Atulayan village, members of the community are restoring degraded rangeland through the Native Plants for Environment and People (Native PEP) project, using native grass species to rebuild vegetation cover and create a more reliable source of fodder.

What was once largely rocks, dust and bare soil is now covered in green.

From degraded land to a community asset

For years, erratic weather and pressure on grazing areas had depleted pasture in Atulayan. Local attempts to allow grass to regenerate through paddocking and fencing had not produced the expected results.

Seventy-year-old resident Francis Lemariwa remembers the challenge.

“We were struggling, so some people came and told us to fence off the area and see whether anything would grow,” he recalls.

The community fenced the land, but little happened.

The lesson was important: protecting degraded land from grazing pressure could help, but in severely degraded areas, natural regeneration could take years without additional intervention.

That is where active reseeding became central to the restoration effort.

In April 2023, researchers working with the community introduced grass seed and supported residents to establish the restoration site. The community agreed to dedicate part of the land, fence it and plant the seeds.

“We sat down together and discussed what benefits we could get from doing something like this,” says resident Kipkesio Kukat. “We then decided to fence off the land, and they helped us by providing the grass seeds, which we planted.”

Giving native grasses a chance to return

The restoration was not simply about planting any available grass.

Researchers were investigating the encroachment of Acacia reficiens in the area and its relationship with declining grass cover. The project therefore reseeded two grass species, Cenchrus ciliaris and Eragrostis, selected because they grow well in the area.

Dr Staline Kibet, from University of Nairobi, explains why active reseeding is important.

“If we just fence and fail to do reseeding then we may even have to wait for ten years and nothing will grow here,” he says.

For the community, the results have been tangible.

A carpet of vegetation now covers land that previously carried the scars of prolonged degradation.

The transformation demonstrates an important principle behind restoration: degraded landscapes can recover when communities are supported to use approaches suited to their local ecological conditions.

Restoring the land and its ability to hold water

The benefits of the restored grassland extend beneath the surface.

Healthy soil is critical to the water cycle. Bare, degraded land is less able to absorb rainfall, allowing water to run rapidly across the surface and contribute to erosion and flooding.

Dr Urs Schaffner, from CABI Switzerland, explains the difference vegetation can make.

“If you have bare land and it starts raining, all of the water flows away above ground,” he says. “But if you start growing these grasses again, you see that the water can infiltrate into the soil and the soil remains moist for a much longer period.”

Grass roots also help aerate the soil and reduce runoff by allowing more water to enter the soil.

For a region that has experienced both prolonged drought and flash floods, improving the land’s ability to absorb and retain water is particularly important.

From a health risk to a household resource

Atulayan’s restoration story is ultimately about more than grass. For pastoralist households, reliable pasture can mean keeping livestock close to home rather than migrating in search of grazing. But the benefits of the Native PEP-supported reseeding programme are reaching households in other ways too.

Before the programme, the scarcity of grass meant some residents relied on Parthenium hysterophorus to roof their huts, despite the plant’s associated health risks. Others had to travel as far as Paka or Korossi hills (30-50 Km of rugged terrain) to find suitable grass.

Chepökapsöt Lolimä says the return of grass has changed that.

“First, we now have grass for thatching our huts, whereas previously, we relied on the Parthenium for roofing, as there was no grass within our area unless one travels as far as Paka or Korossi hills to get grass.”

Parthenium is known to pose serious health risks to both people and livestock. Its pollen, leaves and roots contain parthenin and other compounds that can trigger allergic reactions and other health problems following exposure.

For residents of Atulayan, however, the problem was not simply the presence of Parthenium. It was the lack of alternatives.

The harvested grass is also used to make shades for initiators during traditional initiation ceremonies and is sold to generate income.

“Second, we used the harvested grass to make shades for initiators who stayed in the bush for about three months during initiation ceremonies. Third, harvesting and selling the grass has generated income, which has improved our livelihoods.”

For Kipkesio Kukat, that income is helping meet essential household needs without selling livestock.

“We used to sleep outside, but now we have a roof over our heads. Even when our children are sitting their exams, we can sell grass and send them to school without having to sell our goats.”

The experience shows how restoring degraded land can create benefits that extend well beyond the environment; providing fodder, supporting cultural practices, improving household incomes and helping families protect the livestock on which their livelihoods depend.

A pathway away from migration and conflict

Before the restoration effort, dry seasons could mean leaving home in search of grazing.

Francis describes how such journeys could lead to disputes over increasingly scarce resources.

“Whenever the dry season comes, people usually migrate. We go to Rukus, and we don’t return empty-handed. That’s when conflicts often begin, we fight over grass and water.”

The restored site has changed that experience for members of the group.

“Since we came together like this, even though there are only a few of us in this group, we haven’t had to migrate.”

That is one of the most significant dimensions of the project.

Restoration is not only rebuilding vegetation. It is helping create conditions in which communities can remain on their land for longer, with access to fodder that reduces pressure to move.

From one community to a wider landscape

The 16-acre site is only one piece of a much larger landscape.

For Native PEP, its importance lies partly in what it demonstrates: restoration can be rooted in community decisions and practical livelihood needs while addressing wider environmental challenges.

Mary Todopong, from University of Nairobi, believes the approach could have a much wider impact if adopted by other communities across Tiaty.

“If the whole theatre adopt this kind of idea that can be transformation for them,” she says, pointing to communities in Loyamorok, Ripko Silale, Churo and Tangulbei.

A wider adoption of the approach could increase the availability of fodder for livestock and reduce pressure on remaining grazing areas.

A green promise for Tiaty

For now, residents continue to harvest the grass, feed their livestock and work the land.

They are making hay while the sun shines, but they are also doing something more enduring: rebuilding the productive capacity of land that had become increasingly difficult to depend on.

The 16-acre restoration site is a reminder that restoring ecosystems and improving livelihoods do not have to be competing goals.

With the right support, native grasses can help rebuild soil, improve water infiltration, provide fodder, supply thatching material, support cultural practices and create income.

For the people of Atulayan, every new patch of green represents a little more security.

And for the Native PEP Project, the experience offers a practical example of what landscape restoration can look like when ecological recovery is connected to the lives, traditions and livelihoods of the people who depend on the land.

The promise is not simply that the grass will return. It is that, with the community at the centre of restoration, life can return with it.

Article by: Simon Njoroge

Welcome to this edition of The Organic Farmer magazine, where every story reminds us that sustainable agriculture begins with knowledge and flourishes through innovation, resilience, and community.

This month, we explore simple, low-cost innovations that help farmers produce more while caring for the environment. Learn how to make nutrient-rich bokashi manure using locally available materials and discover how everyday farm waste, including eggshells, can be transformed into valuable organic fertilizer. These technologies not only reduce production costs but also promote healthier soils and more sustainable farming systems.

Knowledge remains one of the most powerful farm inputs, and nowhere is this more evident than in the inspiring journey of Dominic Wetoto. His story illustrates how continuous learning and access to reliable agricultural information can transform an ordinary farmer into a thriving enterprise. His experience is a reminder that every farmer’s greatest asset is not just land, but the willingness to learn.

This edition also celebrates resilience. We share the remarkable journey of Rosebella Kimaruti, whose life was transformed through poultry farming after overcoming immense personal hardships. Her story is a powerful testament to agriculture’s ability to restore dignity, create livelihoods, and renew hope.

We also spotlight a family that is redefining traditional gender roles by working together as equal partners in farming. Their experience demonstrates that inclusive decision-making strengthens households, improves productivity, and creates more resilient family enterprises.

Beyond production, agriculture is ultimately about people. Our feature on ethical treatment of farm workers challenges us to recognise that those who labour on our farms are among our most valuable assets. Read on for these and much more.

Click here to access a wide range of practical information on organic farming and markets: https://newsletter.theorganicfarmer.org/

Enjoy the Read!

The Inaugural Executive Committee Meeting of the EAC Regional Agroecology Policy Working Group, held on 16–17 June 2026 at Windsor Hotel in Nairobi, marked a significant milestone in advancing agroecology policy coordination across the East African Community. The event was held under the EU-funded Regional Multi-Actor Research Network (RMNM) on Agroecology in Eastern Africa.

BvAT’ s specific objective within RMNM is to generate credible evidence on agroecological innovations and translate it into policy-relevant outputs through advocacy, awareness creation, and multi-actor dialogue for scaling across East Africa.

During the meeting, the following appointments were confirmed:

• Mr. Alex Mutungi was appointed Chair of the Policy and Governance Subcommittee, tasked with guiding institutional frameworks and ensuring alignment with regional priorities.
• Mr. Fredrick Ochieng was appointed as a Member of the Research and Knowledge Management Subcommittee, responsible for strengthening evidence generation and dissemination to inform policy and practice.
• Dr. Eunice Mutuku was appointed as a Member of the Agroecology Curriculum Development Subcommittee, focusing on embedding agroecology into education and training systems to build long-term capacity.

The subcommittees will convene quarterly and report directly to the Chair of the Executive Committee, ensuring accountability and continuous progress.

Compiled by:

Alex Mutungi-AU EOAI Africa Secretariat Coordinator

A few years ago, growing anything at Chelaba Primary School seemed almost impossible.

The school is located within a naturally saline landscape that has long been part of a wildlife corridor in Baringo County. For generations, wild animals have visited the area to access natural salt licks found in the soil. While this unique environment supports wildlife, it also presents challenges for growing crops and trees, and for a region already struggling with harsh climatic conditions, the idea of establishing thriving vegetation within the school grounds felt ambitious.

Today, however, something remarkable is taking root.

Rows of indigenous seedlings now stand where bare ground once dominated. Learners carefully water young trees before class. Teachers discuss restoration not only in lessons, but through practice. Community members regularly walk into the school compound looking to purchase seedlings for planting in their homes and farms.

At the centre of this quiet transformation is the Native Plants for Environment and People (Native PEP) project.

The journey began with the establishment of a native tree nursery within the school.

Working closely with teachers, learners, and the surrounding community, the project introduced training on restoration practices and indigenous tree propagation. Soon, the school started nurturing native species that are increasingly disappearing from the landscapes of Baringo County, including acacia trees that have long shaped the region’s ecosystems.

For many learners, it was their first time raising tree seedlings from seed.

But as the nursery grew, so did something else: ownership.

Students began taking pride in the trees they nurtured daily. Teachers embraced the initiative as part of practical environmental learning. The surrounding community started purchasing seedlings directly from the school, not simply because they needed trees, but because they had begun embracing the wider restoration movement.

The impact of the nursery soon extended beyond the school grounds. Inspired by what they were learning, some learners started establishing their own small nurseries at home and sharing their knowledge with parents and other family members. In doing so, they became young ambassadors for restoration within their communities.

Then came an unexpected outcome.

The school realized the nursery could generate income.

Money earned from selling seedlings started helping the school purchase basic learning materials such as books and pens for students. What started as an environmental intervention was now also contributing to educational support for learners.

In many ways, the seedlings became symbols of possibility, proof that restoration could produce both ecological and social value.

Yet another challenge remained beneath the surface.

The school’s saline soils continued limiting plant growth in several areas. Instead of overlooking the problem, the Native PEP project worked with the school to understand and address it directly.

Teachers and students received training on soil amelioration practices aimed at improving soil health and productivity. Gradually, areas that previously struggled to support vegetation began showing signs of recovery.

A school garden was later established, a new space expected to support vegetable production while serving as a living classroom for sustainable land management.

For the learners, the lesson became bigger than farming or trees.

It became a lesson about resilience: that even degraded land can recover with patience, knowledge, and collective action.

Chelaba Primary School is now helping shape a broader vision for Native PEP’s engagement with schools across Kenya and Tanzania.

The project hopes to replicate similar approaches in other learning institutions, while recognizing that every school has unique challenges and opportunities. Some may require restoration support, others water solutions, soil improvement, or environmental awareness programmes.

The guiding principle remains simple: listen first, then respond to the realities on the ground.

At Chelaba Primary School, the journey is only beginning.

Building on the success of the tree nursery, soil improvement efforts, and school garden, the school is planning additional environmental activities in the coming years. These include initiatives to support the restoration and protection of springs, swamps, and canals within the surrounding landscape.

Achieving these ambitions will require continued collaboration and support from partners and well-wishers. Sustained investment will help ensure that the gains already achieved through the Native PEP project are maintained and expanded, allowing more learners, families, and communities to benefit from restoration efforts.

And at Chelaba Primary School, the reality is already visible.

What once looked like lifeless soil is slowly becoming a place of growth, learning, and hope; one seedling at a time.

Article by: Simon Njoroge

Brussels became the stage for a powerful conversation on Africa’s agricultural future during the DeSIRA LIFT+ Spring Co‑design Workshop held on 20–21 April 2026. The gathering brought together African partner organizations, FARA, RUFORUM, and Biovision Africa Trust (BvAT), as well as Agrinatura EEIG, the Directorate‑General for International Partnerships of the European Commission (DG INTPA), and selected experts. The mission objective was to co‑design the operational roadmap and Theory of Change (ToC) for DeSIRA LIFT+, a development facility dedicated to strengthening innovation, evidence, and policy dialogue for agroecological transitions across Africa.

DeSIRA LIFT+ is not about implementing projects directly; it is about connecting the dots as a service hub by fostering dialogue, building partnerships, conducting transversal studies, and ensuring that evidence flows seamlessly into policy arenas. The workshop was a turning point, gradually rotating the wheel from broad ambition to concrete action.

Representing Biovision Africa Trust, Fredrick Ochieng (Ag. Executive Director) and Alex Mutungi (AU EOA Initiative Africa Coordinator) played a vital role in shaping discussions. They emphasized the importance of farmer‑managed seed systems (FMSS) and agroecology as cornerstones of Africa’s food system transformation. BvAT presented its Transdisciplinary Learning Initiative (TDLI) and Digital Knowledge Platform (DKP) as initiatives that align with its objectives for knowledge management and capacity building. Their call was for policies that recognize and protect farmer-managed seed systems, incentivize agroecological practices, and integrate these into national, regional, and continental strategies.

The workshop concluded with a shared roadmap, draft governance structures, and a renewed commitment to evidence‑based policy dialogue. For FARA, RUFORUM, and BvAT, this was more than a technical exercise; it was about ownership and voice, ensuring that continental priorities drive the trajectory of DeSIRA LIFT+ Initiative.

With partners like BvAT at the forefront, the initiative is poised to make agroecological transitions not just a vision but a lived reality across Africa.

Compiled by:

Alex Mutungi

Africa Secretariat Coordinator of the AU EOA Initiative

The Organic Farmer magazine continues to provide practical, field-tested knowledge to help farmers stay resilient in the face of changing climate and market conditions. In this edition, we place strong emphasis on climate preparedness. With increasingly erratic rainfall and extreme weather events, timely decision-making is critical.

Our weather advisory and technical guidance highlight the importance of early planning, appropriate crop and variety selection, and practices such as soil conservation, water management, and fodder planning to reduce risks and optimise production throughout the season. We further explore innovations shaping the future of agriculture, from climate-smart crop varieties to dryland farming techniques and emerging agribusiness opportunities such as avocado farming.

As always, TOF remains committed to translating research into simple, actionable insights equipping you not just to cope with change, but to farm with confidence and resilience.

This year, we introduce a digital version of the TOF newsletter to keep you informed throughout the year.

Click here to access a wide range of practical information on organic farming and markets: https://newsletter.theorganicfarmer.org/

Enjoy the Read!

The Harvest Money Expo remains one of Uganda’s most strategic agricultural platforms bringing together farmers, agribusiness actors, policymakers, researchers, development partners, and consumers organised by New Vision and other partners.

For PELUM Uganda through the Knowledge Hub for Organic Agriculture and Agroecology (KHEA) Project, participation in the 2026 Expo was intentional and impact-driven. Beyond exhibitions, our engagement focused on two critical pillars: policy influence and consumer awareness.

Elevating Agroecology Through Policy Dialogue

While agroecology continues to gain traction at grassroots level, policy environments often lag behind. Smallholder farmers, youth, and women the primary drivers of agroecology are frequently excluded from policy conversations that directly affect them.

To bridge this gap, KHEA along other partners, through support mechanisms under its broader programming, facilitated a Policy Dialogue at the Expo. The dialogue created a structured platform where:

• Agroecological entrepreneurs and multipliers engaged decision-makers
• Participants articulated challenges affecting organic value chains
• Discussions focused on market access, certification, financing, and regulatory frameworks
• Stakeholders explored opportunities for creating more enabling policies

The dialogue was not symbolic, it was practical. It strengthened the confidence of KHEA-trained Multipliers, and other farmers and exhibitors to move beyond technical production and actively participate in shaping the systems that govern their work.

By providing a space for structured engagement, PELUM Uganda through the KCOA-KHEA Project contributed to repositioning agroecology not just as a farming practice, but as a policy priority.

Advancing the “Know What You Eat” Campaign

Consumer awareness is equally critical in transforming food systems. At the Expo, KHEA amplified the “Know What You Eat” campaign, an initiative designed to empower consumers to make informed food choices.

The campaign emphasized:

• Understanding how food is produced
• Promoting safe, chemical free agricultural practices
• Encouraging traceability and transparency in value chains
• Connecting consumers directly to agroecological producers

Through interactive engagements at the Agroecology Village, consumers were encouraged to reflect on the link between food production methods, personal health, and environmental sustainability.

The campaign reinforced a simple but powerful message: food choices influence farming systems. When consumers demand safe and sustainably produced food, markets respond — and agroecology thrives.

Showcasing Knowledge in Action

Participation also provided an opportunity for the PELUM Uganda trained KHEA Multipliers to exhibit agroecological products and innovations. Their presence demonstrated the tangible outcomes of knowledge dissemination, capacity building, and farmer-to-farmer learning.

The Expo platform allowed KHEA to connect knowledge to markets, policy conversations, and consumer engagement completing the agroecology ecosystem cycle.

A Strategic Investment in System Transformation

PELUM Uganda’s participation through the KCOA-KHEA Project in the 2026 Harvest Money Expo was more than visibility, it was a strategic investment in:

• Strengthening policy engagement
• Empowering agroecological entrepreneurs
• Raising consumer awareness
• Expanding market opportunities
• Positioning agroecology within mainstream agricultural discourse

By integrating dialogue, advocacy, and consumer campaigns within one national platform, KHEA advanced its mission of transforming agrifood systems through knowledge-driven, inclusive, and sustainable approaches.

By Magino Pamella – KHEA Communications Officer – Biovision Africa Trust and PELUM Uganda

The Tanzania Organic Agriculture Movement (TOAM) has just hosted its 4th National Ecological Organic Agriculture Conference (NEOAC) in close collaboration with The Ministry of Agriculture in Tanzania in a dynamic three days event (3–5 March 2026) that brought together farmers, policy actors, researchers, civil society, and agriculture stakeholders to exchange experiences and chart pathways for scaling ecological organic agriculture across Tanzania and the region. The first two days focused on conference sessions, while the third day featured an experiential learning excursion to the Bihawana Farmers Learning Centre, followed by a gala dinner recognizing key actors in the ecological organic agriculture sector and providing networking opportunities for TOAM members.

The conference was streamed live on YouTube, allowing broader participation:

• Day 1 livestream: Youtube Link
• Day 2 livestream: Youtube Link

Showcasing KHEA Multipliers at the Exhibition

A key highlight of the event was the exhibition space made available to the KHEA Multipliers trained on the KCOA Project.

KHEA Multipliers were supported to participate in the conference exhibition, giving them a platform to:

• Showcase farmer‑led innovations, organic practices, and indigenous knowledge products,
• Engage directly with conference participants, policy influencers, and extension officers,
• Strengthen visibility for community‑driven ecological agriculture approaches.
• Network and share experience with other delegates including farmers, researchers,policy makers and other value chain actors.
• Learn from other exhibitors, presenters and side events for discussion new practise and technologies.

This exhibition provided an important opportunity for Multipliers to demonstrate how locally adapted ecological practices contribute to resilient farming systems.

Experiential Learning Visit to Bihawana Farmers Learning Centre

Following the formal sessions, participants joined an excursion to the Bihawana Farmers Learning Centre, a leading hub for practical agroecological learning. The visit offered an immersive experience where attendees:

• Observed organic production systems in action,
• Interacted with experienced farmers implementing ecological practices,
• Deepened understanding of soil health management, biodiversity enhancement, and farmer‑led advisory models.

These hands‑on insights complemented the conference discussions, offering real‑world examples of the principles shared during sessions.

Government Support for Demonstration Plots and Awareness Building

 In addition to the National Ecological Organic Agriculture Strategy  launched in November 2023, the government has allocated land at the Bihawana Farmers Learning Centre for EOA stakeholders. This support will be used to:

• Demonstrate the performance of ecological organic agriculture practices,

• Serve as training sites for farmers, researchers, and extension agents,
• Increase awareness of organic agriculture benefits across farming communities.

“The Government of Tanzania, through the Ministry of Agriculture, recognizes the importance of Ecological Organic Agriculture. I encourage stakeholders to frequently visit our offices so we can further discuss collaboration towards the successful implementation of the National Ecological Organic Agriculture Strategy (NEOAS).”— Hon. David Silinde, Deputy Minister of Agriculture

This government collaboration reinforces commitment to scaling organic agriculture and integrating ecological approaches into mainstream development strategies.

Looking Ahead

 TOAM’s 4th NEOAC underscored the importance of multi‑stakeholder collaboration in driving agricultural transformation. By partnering with KHEA to elevate Multipliers’ voices, facilitating learning excursions, and securing strategic support for demonstration sites, the conference marked a meaningful step toward strengthening organic agriculture uptake.

TOAM looks forward to the implementation of the identified call to action, which highlights the urgent need to address critical challenges facing the ecological organic agriculture sector.

The livestreamed sessions ensured that conversations and insights extended beyond the event venue, enabling wider access for stakeholders across the region.

Together, these efforts advance a shared vision of resilient, ecologically grounded food systems that empower farmers and nurture community well‑being.

About the NEOAC, please visit the site for more information; https://kilimohai.org/

Other pictures

By Magino Pamella – KHEA Communications Officer – Biovision Africa Trust and PELUM Uganda