Institute of Agricultural Research For Development

Organic and Inorganic Agriculture in Cameroon; sustainability and Challenges

PRESENTED BY

NJUKENG JETRO NKENGAFAC (PhD)

Senior Research Officer (Maitre de Recherche)

Buea, 8th of February 2016

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Organic and Inorganic Agriculture

SUB THEME

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INTRODUCTION

BASIC DEFINITIONS

- Agriculture

- Organic agriculture

- Inorganic agriculture

CHARACTERISTICS OF PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ORGANIC AND INORGANIC

AGRICULTURE

ORGANIC AND INORGANIC AGRICULTURE IN CAMEROON

PLAN OF PRESENTATION

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Agriculture remains the backbone of Cameroon's economy,

employing 70 percent of its workforce, providing 42 percent of

its GDP and 30 percent of its export revenue. Cameroon

produces a variety of agricultural commodities both for export

and for domestic consumption. Some of these crops are coffee

and cocoa, bananas, natural rubber and cotton.

INTRODUCTION

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In addition to export commodities, Cameroonian farmers produce

numerous subsistence crops for family consumption. Some

principal food crops include millet, maize, sorghum, peanuts,

plantains, sweet potatoes, yams, and manioc. Animal husbandry is

practiced throughout the country and is particularly important in

northern regions.

INTRODUCTION

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Agriculture:

The science, art, and business of cultivating soil, producing crops, and raising

livestock.

Organic agriculture:

Cultivation and production system where nutrients are supplied through

organic inputs and pest & disease management by biodegradable organic

inputs. Livestock that are produced under organic management; feed with

pasture, forage, and crops that are organically produced and handled

organically. However, there are certain nonsynthetic and synthetic substances

that can be used as feed additives and supplements.

BASIC DEFINITIONS

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Inorganic agriculture:

Cultivation and production system where nutrients are supplied through

chemical inputs and pest & disease management by inorganic chemical

inputs. Inorganic livestock production is a means of production where

agrochemicals, veterinary drugs, antibiotics and improved feeds are used

to raise up the livestock.

BASIC DEFINITIONS

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Organic farming can be practiced by any farmer

who is willing to follow its principles and

guidelines to produce organic foods for his or

her own household. However, if the food is to

be marketed or traded, it must be certified by

an accredited agency. , before produce from

WHO CAN PRACTICE ORGANIC FARMING?

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Registration of producers and the processing

industries

The provision of basic information on the crops and

farm

Inspection and verification of the field and

processing unit

Inspection of production methods and practices by

the inspector appointed by the certifying agency.

A transition period of one to three years is required,

during which no inorganic fertilizer or agrochemicals

may be used on the farm and no antibiotics or

synthetic hormones may be given to the animals. nld

suffer some losses, unless

compensation was made for this

CERTIFICATION STEPS

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Consumers expect organic milk, meat, poultry,

eggs, leather products, etc. to come from farms

that have been inspected to verify that they meet

rigorous standards, which mandate the use of

organic feed, prohibit the use of prophylactic

antibiotics (though in fact all antibiotics are

discouraged except in medical emergencies) and

give animals access to the outdoors, fresh air and

sunlight.

Organic livestock production

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There is a rapid advancement in organic crop production but

organic livestock and poultry systems are not nearly so

developed.

Although tropical countries are now producing and exporting

organic agricultural products in ever-increasing quantities,

only negligible developments have been reported in livestock

production from these countries.

This could be due to, limited export prospects for organic

livestock products due to quality controls (so-called ‘trade

barriers’) and self-sufficiency in importing countries.

Organic crops versus livestock products

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Cover crops, improve soil fertility, soil texture, nutrient cycling

capacity and soil moisture retention and can suppress weeds as a

smother crop (by out competing weeds) or through allelopathic

properties.

Crop rotation, reduce the build-up of disease and pest

populations, improves soil structure by alternating deep and

shallow rooted plants, and balances fertility demands by avoiding

the depletion of crop specific nutrients.

Integrated pest management (IPM), considers the life cycle of a

targeted species and intervenes in reproduction, growth, or

development to reduce pest populations to a level not harmful to

crops. IPM also works to maintain populations of beneficial

insects.

Organic crop production practices

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Crop diversity, growing a variety of crops within one farming

system. It reduces pest and disease build-up, and reduces

nutrient depletion.

Green manures, animal manures, and compost, sources of

fertility for organic production systems. Green manures are

cover crops grown specifically to be plowed under and

incorporated into the soil. Animal manures are an excellent

source of nutrients and enhance soil biological activity.

Compost or humus is decomposed organic matter that

improves soil structure, aeration, moisture retention, biological

activity, and nutrient cycling.

Organic crop production practices

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INVESTMENT

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ORGANIC AND INORGANIC AGRICULTURE

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INORGANIC

AGRICULTURE

ORGANIC AGRICULTURE

Huge capital Small capital

Specialized equipment Simple equipment

SOIL

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ORGANIC AND INORGANIC AGRICULTURE

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INORGANIC AGRICULTURE ORGANIC AGRICULTURE

Blocks the Microbial

Activity

Increases the Microbial Life

Soil structure is destroyed Soil structure improves

Alters the soil pH Buffering of soils

Nutrients are available only

for shorter period

Nutrients available for

longer period

Leads to erosion Prevents the soil erosion

Accumulation of hazardous

material in soil

There is no hazardous

material in soil

Soil becomes dead Soils become fertile

CROP

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ORGANIC AND INORGANIC AGRICULTURE

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INORGANIC AGRICULTURE ORGANIC AGRICULTURE

Quick lodging of crop Provide good anchorage to

the crop

More chemical residues

present in crops

No chemical residues

present in crop

Crops are highly

susceptible to pests and

diseases

Protects from pests and

diseases

Harvested produce are in

low quality

Premium quality

Health / Social Differences

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ORGANIC AND INORGANIC AGRICULTURE

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INORGANIC AGRICULTURE ORGANIC AGRICULTURE

Causes pollution to the

environment

Pollution free approach

Provides chemical mixed

/toxic food to the human

life

Provides nutritive food to

the human life

Causes inborn disease to

the human beings

It provides the immune

power to the human beings

Economic Differences

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ORGANIC AND INORGANIC AGRICULTURE

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INORGANIC

AGRICULTURE

ORGANIC AGRICULTURE

High investments in inputs Low investments in inputs

material

Highly fluctuation in yield Satisfactory and reliable

yield

No strands to break

competitiveness

High efficiency to improve

the competitiveness

PIONEERS, are Jean-Martin Tetang (EXPORT AGRO) and Jean-

Pierre Imele (EXODOM).

Organic pineapple and papaya in Cameroon is produced by

individual producers and a few groups. The grouping poles are in

general constituted by the exporting producers. The exporting

body, holding the organic certificate, gathers a network of

producers that it monitors, controls and certifies. Common

Initiative Groups ("GIC" in French) also exist.

HISTORY OF THE ORGANIC SECTOR IN CAMEROON

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The Association for the Promotion of Organic Agriculture in

Cameroon (ASPABIC).

ASPABIC provides its members with services of promotion of

organic agriculture, information, public awareness, technical

monitoring and advice.

The Government of Cameroon set up a professional association

named AGROCOM, which was mandated to organize and

supervise the whole exporting sector with a view to "Diversifying

Cameroon’s Agricultural Exports".

OPERATORS IN ORGANIC SECTOR IN CAMEROON

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-Pineapple,

-Onion,

-Potato

-Plantain

-Papaya solo

-Avocado

-Mango (grafted and ameliorated)

SOME CROPS OF THE ORGANIC SECTOR IN CAMEROON

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BANANA PRODUCTION AS AN EXAMPLE

On the other hand, bananas produced by individual farmers

who may have a few stems in their farms is organically

produced with most often no chemicals applied, in a few cases

wood ash is used. These bananas are destined for local

consumption by the family member or sold locally.

ORGANIC AND INORGANIC AGRICULTURE IN CAMEROON

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THE CASE OF CHICKEN PRODUCTION

Most of the chicken produced by farmers in cages is

inorganically produced with lots of antibiotics administered

and improved feed used. The local breed that are allowed to

feed in the wild could be considered as organically raised. No

antibiotics or improved feed is fed to them.

ORGANIC AND INORGANIC AGRICULTURE IN CAMEROON

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No national standards exist for organic agriculture.

The operators started from the opportunities offered

by European markets to develop Cameroon’s potential

in organic agricultural production. Until now, the basis

used has been EEC Regulation 2092/91. Control and

certification are done by international certification

bodies. The two bodies present in Cameroon are IMO

and ECOCERT.

NATIONAL STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS

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Organic agriculture is an ecological production management

system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles

and soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of off-farm

inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain and

enhance ecological harmony. On the other hand, inorganic

agriculture is not ecologically sound as it destroys biodiversity,

biological cycles and soil biological activity. It is based on the

usage of inorganic inputs. However, there are a lot of challenges

involve with each of the agricultural systems.

CONCLUSION

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Thank you for your kind

Attention