Organic exports; a way to a better life? Export Promotion of Organic Products from Africa

A summary of key data for the export projects in Tanzania, Zambia and Uganda shows that farmers have sold organic products for approximately US$15 million per year and the total export value is more than double that amount. A total of 110,000 farms have participated, but only 80,000 have actively delivered products to the exporters. Considering the size of households, it means that some 600,000 people have been beneficiaries of the programme. The average income from the organic crops sold to the exporters was US$140. This represents only part of the income of the farmers as most of them sold considerable quantities to other buyers also, as well as other crops. In the projects, the average sales per farmer varied from nil to US$2,500.