Experts Call for Policies to Boost Organic Farming Ahead of 2nd Eastern Africa Agroecology Conference

Agriculture stakeholders are urging the government to introduce policies that promote organic farming to enhance food security and environmental sustainability in the country.

Speaking during a media consultative forum in Nairobi, Biovision Africa Trust (BvAT) Executive Director, Dr. David Amudavi, highlighted the negative effects of prolonged use of chemical fertilizers, particularly soil acidity, which is reducing their benefits to farmers. He called for incentives to encourage companies to produce and distribute organic fertilizers as a viable alternative.

Dr. Amudavi’s remarks come ahead of the 2nd Eastern Africa Agroecology Conference, which is set to take place in Nairobi. Themed “Strengthening Agri-Food System Transformation for Resilience, Sustainability, and Socio-Economic Development,” the conference seeks to promote agroecology as a sustainable farming approach that enhances productivity while preserving ecosystems.

The conference is organized by Biovision Africa Trust, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, and over 20 partners. It aligns with the African Union’s Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA) Initiative, which advocates for sustainable organic farming to improve agricultural productivity and livelihoods across Africa.

Building on the success of the first Eastern Africa Agroecology Conference in 2023, which attracted around 600 participants, this year’s event is expected to host over 700 attendees, including: Government officials, Private sector leaders and Farmers’ associations