Training in organic farming

THE Namibian Organic Association (NOA) has trained 22 farmers and 17 students of the Krumhuk Agricultural Training Centre on the use of effective micro-organisms (EM) in agriculture recently.

EM consists of mixed cultures of beneficial and naturally occurring micro-organisms that can be applied as inoculants to improve animal and crop production.’The misuse and excessive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides have often adversely affected the environment and created many food safety and quality and human and animal health problems,’ the NOA says. 
’Consequently, there has been a growing interest in nature farming and organic agriculture by consumers and environmentalists as possible alternatives to chemical-based, conventional agriculture.’EM use has developed over the last 20 years and is now used commercially in various fields,’ says Manjo Smith, Chairperson of NOA. In agriculture, beneficial micro-organisms play different roles in the soil, such as fixating atmospheric nitrogen, decomposing organic wastes and residues, suppressing soil-borne pathogens, recycling and increasing the availability of plant nutrients, degrading toxicants – including pesticides – producing antibiotics and other bio-active compounds. They also make plants limit their intake of heavy metals, therefore improves the soil quality, soil health, and the growth, yield, and quality of crops.In animal production, EM is used for odour and fly control in stables and poultry houses; it is used as a valuable feed amendment; it can be used in preparing silage; in a hoof bath it prevents rot and contributes to building healthy hooves; and by adding EM to animal drink water, it improves the general health and well-being of animals.Furthermore, EM can also be used effectively to maintain and clean water in dams and reservoirs, in waste treatment, human health, recycling, in washing machines, domestic household cleaning and more.Stephen Barrow, a consultant from South Africa, presented the course. The Namibian Organic Association (NOA) co-ordinates and promotes organic agricultural development, networking and marketing in Namibia. NOA is sponsored by the UN’s Namibia Country Pilot Partnership for Integrated Sustainable Land Management (CPP Nam ISLM), hosted by the programme co-ordination unit in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism.Interested parties can contact NOA Chairperson Manjo Smith for more information at 081 129 5575 or e-mail to info@noa.org.na.