Organic food often comes with a higher price tag, leaving many farmers and consumers wondering: Is organic farming worth it? The Namibian Organic Association (NOA) and the Knowledge Centre for Organic Agriculture in Africa (KCOA) challenge this perception, revealing that organic farming can be cost-competitive and sustainable in the long run. By addressing the hidden costs of conventional farming and showcasing the economic and environmental benefits of organic practices, this article busts the price myth and empowers farmers to make informed choices. Let us dive into the true cost of organic versus conventional farming and why it’s a smart investment for Africa’s future.

Why Organic Food Seems More Expensive

It is a common question: Why does organic food cost more? The NOA explains that organic agriculture reflects the true cost of production, unlike conventional farming, which often sells food below its actual cost due to externalised expenses. These hidden costs include:

• Health Impacts: Conventional farming relies on synthetic chemicals and GMOs, linked to health issues like cancer and antibiotic resistance. These medical costs burden society, not farmers’ balance sheets.
• Environmental Damage: Chemical fertilisers and pesticides degrade soil, reduce biodiversity and pollute water sources, requiring costly cleanup and restoration.
• Subsidies: Conventional agriculture often benefits from government subsidies, artificially lowering prices, while organic farmers bear the full cost of sustainable practices.

Organic farming, guided by the principles of Health, Ecology, Fairness and Care, avoids these externalities, ensuring that prices reflect the real effort of producing food sustainably. However, the cost of organic production is not necessarily higher. Let us break it down.

Comparing Costs: Organic vs. Conventional Farming

While organic farming may involve upfront investments, it can be more cost-effective over time. Here is a comparison based on Southern African contexts, particularly Namibia:

Organic Farming Costs

• Inputs: Organic farmers use natural fertilisers (e.g., compost, manure) and GMO-free seeds, often produced on-farm or sourced locally. This reduces reliance on expensive agrochemicals.
• Labour: Organic practices like intercropping and manual weed control may require more labour initially, but they build soil health, reducing long-term input needs.
• Certification: Joining NOA (350 NAD/year) and obtaining Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) certification involves fees, but these are affordable for local markets. Third-party certification for exports is costlier but opens premium markets.
• Conversion Period: The 2–3-year transition to organic status may limit immediate profits, but farmers can start small to manage costs.

Conventional Farming Costs

• Inputs: Synthetic fertilisers, pesticides, and GMO seeds are expensive and require annual purchases, as farmers cannot save patented seeds. In Namibia, imported GMO maize and soy-based feeds add to costs.
• Environmental Mitigation: Soil degradation and water contamination from chemicals lead to long-term expenses, such as land restoration or irrigation system upgrades.
• Health Risks: Overuse of antibiotics in livestock and chemical residues in crops increase healthcare costs for communities, indirectly affecting farmers’ social license to operate.
• Market Volatility: Conventional commodities face price swings, unlike organic products, which command stable premiums of 5-20% locally and up to 80% internationally.

Key Insight: Organic farming invests in soil health and biodiversity, reducing input costs over time, while conventional farming’s reliance on external inputs creates a cycle of escalating expenses.

Long-Term Savings with Organic Farming

Organic farming offers significant savings and benefits that outweigh initial costs, making it a viable option for Southern African farmers:

• Reduced Input Costs: By producing organic feed (e.g., maize, lucerne) and fertilisers on-farm, farmers cut reliance on costly imports. For example, bushfeed and biochar provide affordable livestock feed during dry seasons.
• Improved Soil Health: Practices like crop rotation and intercropping enhance soil fertility, reducing the need for external fertilisers and increasing yields over time.
• Premium Markets: Organic certification unlocks access to high-value markets, with price premiums boosting income. Namibian organic beef, for instance, sells at the Windhoek Green Market for 5-20% more than conventional beef.
• Climate Resilience: Organic practices, such as rotational grazing, sequester carbon and improve water retention, mitigating drought impacts common in Southern Africa.
• Community Benefits: Organic farming fosters fair relationships, supporting local economies and reducing health costs from chemical exposure.

Overcoming Barriers to Organic Adoption

Despite its benefits, some farmers hesitate to switch due to perceived costs. Here’s how to address common barriers:

• Upfront Costs: Start with a small plot or herd to test organic practices, minimising financial risk during the conversion period.
• Certification Fees: Opt for NOA’s PGS for local markets, which is more affordable than third-party certification. Join NOA for 350 NAD/year to access support and resources.
• Labour Demands: Train farm workers in organic techniques or collaborate with neighbouring farmers to share labour, as encouraged by PGS’s community-based approach.
• Market Access: Connect with local outlets like The Organic Box or export markets through NOA’s network to ensure sales cover costs.

Busting the Myth: Organic is Worth It

The price myth surrounding organic farming overlooks its long-term economic and environmental advantages. By avoiding the hidden costs of conventional farming, health risks, environmental degradation and input dependency, organic farmers build resilient profitable operations.

Download the knowledge product below for deeper insights into organic benefits.

Author: Rabecca Mwila

Rabecca Mwila is a passionate advocate for sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship. With a background in climate change and communications, she has spent years telling the untold stories of the realities of climate change, environmental and climate injustices and how they affect vulnerable communities in Africa and beyond.