EOA-I
The Ecological Organic Agriculture Initiative (EOA-I) is a continental initiative that holds promise for increasing the productivity of Africa’s smallholder farms, with consequent positive impacts on food security. The propelling idea for this initiative emerged after the African Union Commission (AUC) supported a workshop in Kenya in 2011, which resulted in the development of the concept note, proposal and later formation of a Central Steering Committee (CSC) on organic agriculture.
Seeing value in this outcome, the AUC then broadened the membership of this committee by including in it representatives from the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in Africa, NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency, Farmers Organizations, Civil Society Organizations (CSO), Donors, Private Sector Agriculture based organizations, African Organic Network (AfroNet), Organic Certification bodies, Research Institutions, Academic Institutions, Ecological Organic Agriculture Industry Institutions or Networks and Development Partners. As a measure of its support, the African Union Commission proposes the Chair to the Continental EOA Steering Committee.
Aim
The project aims to increase the productivity of Africa’s smallholder farms, with consequent positive impacts on food security.
Overall goal
Mainstreaming ecological agriculture into national agricultural production systems, plans and policies.
Strategic objectives
-
To carry out holistic demand driven, multi-disciplinary, gender sensitive and participatory research, training and extension in support of EOA by 2025.
-
To collate, package and disseminate research findings and other relevant information to various stakeholders using various approaches and channels of communication by 2025.
-
To increase the share of quality EOA products at the national, regional and international markets through value chain analysis and market development by 2025.
-
To foster and strengthen synergies among stakeholders in Africa through building networks and partnerships by 2025.
-
To lobby and advocate for the mainstreaming of EOA programs, policies, plans and in the agriculture sector as well as other related sectors by 2025.
-
Strengthen the governance management and operations of EOA institutions in Africa by 2025 for effective functioning and service delivery