The 5th African Organic Conference in Kigali

 The 5th African Organic Conference is currently ongoing in Kigali Rwanda under the auspices of the African Organic Network (AfrONet) and being hosted by Rwanda Organic Agriculture Movement (ROAM) a Country Implementing Partner in Rwanda under the Knowledge Hub for Organic Agriculture and Agroecology in Eastern Africa (KHEA). ROAM is a partner to Biovision Africa Trust (BvAT) in Kenya which is the lead coordinating agency with a Co-Hosting arrangement with PELUM Uganda on the KCOA-KHEA Project.

AfrONet is the umbrella body of organic agriculture actors in Africa representing the National and Regional Organic Agriculture Movements (NOAMs/ROAMs). While ROAM is the National Umbrella Organization for producers, farmers, processors, exporters, and importers involved in organic agriculture with over 5000 members.

The conference running from December 12 -15 2023 is being held at Marriott Hotel, Kigali Rwanda under the theme, “Strengthening Resilient and Sustainable Food Systems in Africa through Organic Agriculture.”

The four-day event has brought together key stakeholders in the agroecology space in Africa under the leadership of the African Union Commission through the Division of Rural Economy which chairs the EOA Initiative on the continent to discuss organic agriculture developments, progress, and challenges encountered in Africa since the last AOC held in Sally, Senegal but also to share information about the benefits of organic agriculture and its contribution to the economy, human health, soil health, climate change mitigation, adaptation, and resilience building.

The Knowledge Hub for Organic Agriculture and Agroecology in Eastern Africa (KHEA) with Partner Multipliers, Master Trainers and Project Team from Kenya-PELUM Kenya, Uganda-PELUM Uganda, Rwanda-Rwanda Organic Agriculture Movement (ROAM), Tanzania-Tanzania Organic Agriculture Movement (TOAM), and Madagascar-GSDM&SYMABIO are in attendance showcasing different agroecological practices, indigenous and traditional food, agro-inputs and seeds from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Madagascar, their preservation, preparation, innovation/ value addition and consumption. Through the conference, they are creating awareness on the value of OA practices in transforming the food systems and strengthening the resilience capacity of smallholder farming communities to climate change-related stresses.

The conference will exploit ways of strengthening Resilient and Sustainable Food Systems in Africa through Organic Agriculture and share experiences from across the continent.

The conference will exploit ways of strengthening Resilient and Sustainable Food Systems in Africa through Organic Agriculture and share experiences from across the continent

Prepared by Hudson Were