Organic agriculture can help fight hunger in the world. Still, switching from traditional to organic farming is a challenging duty. The process of readjusting soil involves a learning curve, where farmers may face setbacks such as pest outbreaks, nutrient deficiencies, or crop failures, leading to frustration or financial loss. Then, after years and years of pesticide use, having the Earth readapted to natural procedures takes some time, and most importantly, it takes a lot of knowledge. The knowledge gap is one of the most important hurdles farmers face when it comes to trying this approach. This inexpertise is present at all levels of command: from the soil health going through the pest management and to the certification process, it requires a lot of know-how to overcome the uncertainties of taking this new path.
Because the KCOA Project approaches this problem, its achievements have been highlighted in an article published by the GIZ. In the framework of the COP29 on Climate change, the organization wants to call attention to initiatives that strongly support the fight against it. The review describes the solutions the Knowledge Center offers to the knowledge gap with its 5 Knowledge Hubs throughout Africa that build up a strong network of organizations promoting agroecological practices covering all stages of the production and commercialization of these food products.
Change on a small scale: the personal stories of agroecology
One particular story that touched me from the review is the story from Asiimwe Onesmus, a small farmer in Uganda, who became a role model in his community after switching from traditional to organic farming. Without using chemicals or artificial pesticides, Onesmus is also able to harvest more crops than when he used conventional methods. Just like him, there are hundreds of small farmers willing to transition to a more sustainable way of producing food and that find support in the KCOA project. By strengthening their capacities and providing the necessary methods and expertise for them to be able to move to a more sustainable food production, the Knowledge Center is impacting their lives and contributing to today´s fight against climate change.
Find out more about this story and how the KCOA Project impacts the lives of thousands of small farmers here.
