Organic Agriculture in Rural Development (OARD)

An international working group coordinated by AGRECOL

How can Organic Agriculture become a powerful tool in rural development? This question is central to an international working group. The OARD group consists of professionals in agriculture and agricultural trade. It communicates via E-mail since 2001. The OARD platform serves as a forum of dialogue, exchange of experiences and sharing of knowledge. At present the group has about 80 members – mainly development NGO and trade companies in developing countries. OARD is coordinated by AGRECOL a German based NGO.

At present, OARD focuses on the development of regional and local markets for organic products. Why is this an issue? There are more and more rural development partners in the South, who focus their work on Organic Agriculture. Within their work it is increasingly evidenced that domestic markets are in urgent need for support. Only with their existence will it be possible to make Organic Agriculture a strategy, which contributes, significantly to rural development and food security. The increasing demand for advisory support from partners in the South indicates a potential for development and a need for action.

The group has, therefore started a project on “Organic Agriculture for regional markets and based on local guarantee systems”. Specific objectives of the project are:

• To develop tools and strategies to build up local and regional markets for Organic Agriculture
• To provide advisory support for local NGO and trade companies through specific backstopping and exchange of experiences
• To create synergy effects by facilitating and inter institut8ional dialogue of various organisations that share the same concern.

Important topics are for example: a) market research focused on consumer interests, b) public awareness campaigns for consumers, c) development of local guarantee systems, d) organisation and management of producer groups, e) contracting between producers and traders, f) development of marketing concepts (organic food stores, supermarkets, weekly markets etc.).

Professionals of this working area are welcome to join the group. This includes in particular traders and trade companies that supply local, regional and national markets in developing countries.

Interested? - Please contact: Johannes Kotschi