The idea of organic farming has increasingly become lucrative to most people and for a good reason – it is an immediate substitute to traditional farming as it avoids the use of chemicals to enhance the harvest from crops.
Organic farming has been on an upward trend in Kenya (about 173,000 hectares under this type of farming) with greater compliance with international standards.
Key Takeaways
- Organic waste is used in farming crops and results in more nutritious farm produce.
- It is up to 50% more profitable than regular farming and it is sustainable (Washington State University).
- Your farm needs to be certified by EnCert for better access to the niche market.
- Accurate farming records are critical in organic farming – for compliance checks.
- Knowledge of key elements of an organic garden is essential.
What is organic farming?
Organic farming relies on the use of organic waste in the production of crops – a process that keeps the soil alive and healthy.
Some common organic waste used in enriching the soil includes animal waste, crop waste (and general farm waste), and aquatic waste (like waste from fish) among other biological elements.
How profitable is organic farming?
This method of farming is considered almost as twice (50% more) as profitable as regular farming and contributes to greater biodiversity and environmental sustainability.
Also since only 172,000 to 182,000 hectares (accounting for 0.69% of total agricultural land in Kenya) are being used for organic farming in Kenya, the growth potential is large, and therefore an organic farming project when done right would be profitable in the long run.
The only downside is that the crop yield from organic farms is about 18% lower than regular farming.
Healthy and nutritious produce
The aim of organic farming is to deviate from the use of genetically modified crops, chemical enhancers (including artificial fertilizers), and chemical ways of pest control.
Organic farming creates products that are more nutritious that conventional farm products and therefore more suitable for consumption.
Some countries such as the UK and US took the first leap towards certifying farm produce that is organic and over time other countries have followed the same path.
In Kenya, a prominent organization dealing with organic farming is the Kenya Organic Agriculture Network.
There are farms dedicated to organic farming locally such as Sofia Organic Producers which produces chili, tree tomatoes, tomatoes, capsicum, onions, coriander, and farm animals.
These types of products are common among Kenyan organic farmers with some farms specializing in single produce.
Organic Farming Certification in Kenya
In Kenya, you can do organic farming without getting certified. However, being a certified organic farmer has benefits, including access to a network of support systems, resources, and markets.
Certification is done by EnCert Organic Kenya. This organization certifies both individual farms and farmers as a group. They use internationally recognized guidelines called “Organic Standards” to determine if a farmer qualifies to be certified.
EnCert covers three distinct areas within organic farming: crop production, animal production, and handling and processing of produce.
In order to get certified, go to their website and fill in a form that will get you the correct information on the Organic Standards you are supposed to have. For example, you can fill in the form and specify that you are a beekeeper and they will send you the Organic Standards for beekeeping.
Once you have determined you are compliant, you can set up a visit by an inspector who will then write a report that is sent to EnCert for review.
You will receive a Certificate of Registration only when you are approved. This certificate allows you to embed the EnCert logo in your product packaging hence gaining favor with customers.
It is critical that you keep accurate and consistent records of your farm because organic standards need to be verified against actual data from your farming practices.
The records should include the type of seeds you used, pesticides, soil mixture and additives, pest prevention methods, and the waste varieties that you composited, among other related things.
How to start an organic farm
You need a few steps to get everything in place for your organic garden
Soil preparation
Since you will not be using chemical fertilizers, the soil should be in a very good condition to produce crops on its own. This is something you can gauge by observing the performance of random crops already growing in the soil including weeds.
Ideal soil should contain enough nutrients for new crops with a little boost.
Compost preparation
Compost is one of the most important parts of organic farming. You will need a lot of compost to keep the soil fed with sufficient nutrients over different seasons. It is therefore advisable to prepare the compost before you start planning the crops.
As mentioned above, sources of compost can include animal, farm and crop waste, aquatic waste and rock additives. Mix the soil with these sources of nutrients.
Naturally produced seedlings
The crops themselves need to be free from genetic modifications. This means you will have to look for certified organic seedling brands or get natural seeds and raise them in a seedbed.
It is also necessary to consider the weather conditions prevalent in your location since this will inform your choice of crop and type of seeds.
Polyculture and crop diversity
A technique used to keep organic farms productive is growing multiple crops simultaneously such that they supplement each other with nutrients. This is however not a mandatory rule because you can use crop rotation to keep the soil fresh and productive.
Under the crop rotation plan, large beds are used to harbor different types of crops and then each bed is used for a different type of crop after the harvest season.
Weed and pest management
The goal here is to keep weeds and pests to a minimum since it is difficult to remove them completely.
There are some pesticides that are non-chemical that could be used for this purpose. In addition, practices such as ensuring proper sanitation around the farm can get rid of some pests.
Caution – composting human waste
There are some organic farms that use human compost to grow crops but the rules around this practice are complex and regulated in some countries.
Human solid waste and urine can contain pathogens – harmful bacteria – that may end up in the produce.
On solid waste, some farms compost the mixture of fecal matter and sawdust for up to 6 months while human urine is composted over at least one month.
A more important aspect of human waste compositing is to avoid doing it anywhere within 90 days before the harvest. This will ensure the product is safe for immediate consumption post-harvest.
