organic oaxaca: an agricultural project for the development of oaxaca

ESP
ENG
“ORGANIC OAXACA: AN AGRICULTURAL
PROJECT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF
OAXACA
“ORGANIC OAXACA ”
COOPERATION
FOR DEVELOPMENT
STRATEGIC LINES OF ACTION
ADVANCES IN THE ORGANIC OAXACA
PROJECT DURING ITS 2011-2012 EXERCISE.
Nº 7 / SPRING, 2013 / WWW.OAXACA.GOB.MX
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“ORGANIC OAXACA: AN AGRICULTURAL
PROJECT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF OAXACA
Organic products are rapidly gaining ground in the worldwide food
markets. Taking care of their health and protecting the environment are
some of the reasons that consumers prefer them. To that, we can add that
they are free of artificial additives or genetic modifications and that they
are raised by means of non-contaminating cultivation practices, among
many other benefits.
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The best prospect for Mexican producers is in the high demand for
tropical products that are not produced in most of the developed countries:
mainly coffee, mangos, bananas, avocados, cocoa and hibiscus.
It’s necessary to take advantage of the knowledge and experience of organic
cultivation techniques that Mexican producers have so that they can
compete with other countries that are also seeking opportunities in this
sector, including Brazil, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, Colombia
and Peru. (1)
Among those countries which are experiencing a growth of more than
25% per year of the lands devoted to organic methods of cultivation we
can find: Mexico, Argentina, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Finland, Great Britain,
Denmark, France and Uruguay.
It must be noted that the organic sector is the portion of overall Mexican
agricultural activities that is the most dynamic. The main states which
produce organic food are Chiapas, Oaxaca, Michoacán, Chihuahua and
Guerrero. Chiapas and Oaxaca alone account for 70%. (2)
Oaxaca is currently in the second place in terms of certified surface, and
it is one of the pioneer states of our country in the production of organic
coffee through the actions of the Union of Indigenous Communities of
the Isthmus Region (UCIRI, according to its initials in Spanish: Tr.).
This is a point that acquires special significance since coffee-and especially
organic coffee—is an export product. In recent years, organic certification
in the state has diversified to cover the production of: sesame seeds,
hibiscus flowers, vegetables, mango, basil, guanábana, tamarind, honey,
mezcal and rum.
As reference points, we can cite that for the 2004/2005 agricultural cycle,
there were 20,331 organic producers in the state cultivating 52,707.85
hectares, while for the 2007/2008 cycle, there were 36,219 producers
with 64,495.01 hectares. The foregoing data indicate that the number of
hectares under organic cultivation has grown at an average annual rate of
about 11% (Certimex).
PHOTO: 1 y 2 Carrying out workshops on the
application of organic raw materials and the elaboration
of organic compost.
Organic agriculture is a
production system that uses the
resources of each farm to the
utmost, giving emphasis to soil
fertility and biological activity by
means of the reduction of the
non-renewable resources and the
avoidance of synthetic fertilizers
and pesticides in order to protect
both the environment and human
health. (FAO)
SOURCE: (1)Willer, H. and Uussefe, M., 2004. The World of
Organic Agriculture: Statistics and Emerging Trends. Germany,
International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements.
(2)Gómez Tovar, L. and M.A. Gómez Cruz, 2004. Agriculture in
Mexico and the World. CONABIO. Biodiversity 55: 13-15.
Secretariat of Farming, Forestry, Fishery and Aquaculture
Development of the Government of the State of Oaxaca. (Office
of Agro-Industrial Promotion).
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“Organic Oaxaca”
is part of the Public
Policies of the Government
of Gabino Cué
Monteagudo, Esq., in
order to achieve the
production of healthy,
nutritious food, as well as
the conservation of
agricultural soil.
“ORGANIC OAXACA ”
- Prior to the organic agriculture project in Oaxaca created by the State
Government, there was a program that stimulated the production of
specialized coffee, which was developed within the State Council of
Coffee in 2005. By means of that program, their own funds were used to
defray the certification costs for various coffee organizations and
plantations in the state.
- The organic production project was created in response to an initiative
presented by diverse organic coffee organizations and certification
agencies with a presence in the state. They established the guidelines,
especially with their “Proposal for the development of organic production
systems in Oaxaca,” which was submitted to be considered for inclusion
in the State Development Plan for 2011-2016.
- The proposal called “Organic Oaxaca” was presented by producers from
the Sierra Juarez in the framework of the Fourth Public Hearing of the
State Executive on April 9, 2011.
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- In order to respond to the aforementioned initiatives, by means of the
Secretariat of Farming, Forestry, Fishery and Aquaculture Development
of the Government of the State of Oaxaca (SEDAFPA, according to its
initials in Spanish: Tr.) carried out several workshops on organic
agriculture. Producers, researchers and other people interested in the
themes participated and shared their experiences relating to production
and commercialization in both national and international markets.
- 91.10% of the organic producers in Oaxaca belong to one of the
following ethnic groups: Zapotec, Mixtec, Mixe, Chontal, Chatino,
Chinantec, Triqui, Mazatec or Cuicatec.
PHOTO: (3)The Constitutional Governor of the State,
Gabino Cué Monteagudo, Esq., delivered the Resources
to Support the Payment for Organic Certification to the
Organizations of Organic Producers.
- It’s worth pointing out that the direct sale of organic products to
consumers was established starting in 2002 with the creation of organic
bazaars which sell products such as milk, cheese, honey, vegetables, fruit,
chocolate, candy, tejate (a beverage prepared with cornmeal, chocolate &
other ingredients: Tr.), peanuts, mezcal, etc. There are currently 8 organic
bazaars, 5 in the State Capital, 2 in the Sierra Region, and one more in
the Coast Region.
In the territory of Oaxaca, there is great potential
for the abundant production of honey, the agave
that is used to produce mezcal, hibiscus flowers,
sesame seeds, tropical & deciduous fruits (peaches,
apples, pears, guanábanas, mangos & tamarind),
aromatic herbs and medicinal plants
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STRATEGIC LINES OF ACTION
1.- Promotion of production.
To increase & diversify organic production using different techniques
and tools.
2.- Promotion of organizational & entrepreneurial development.
To stimulate and support organizations of producers in order to push the
development of the sector.
3.- Training & technical assistance.
To make sure there is prompt professional help available.
4.- Research and the transfer of technology.
This is an area which has not been developed and which needs a strong
thrust in order to take advantage of the various micro-climates of Oaxaca.
5.- Promotion and diffusion.
To create and implement a program for the promotion and diffusion of
the production and consumption of organic Oaxaca products.
The State Government will
provide new tools for the
cultivation, certification,
promotion and
commercialization of
organic products. “Organic
agriculture is vital because it
reduces poverty, helps avoid
marginalization, and the
nutrients from the products
have a great contribution to
make to our health.” Gabino
Cué Monteagudo, Esq.,
Governor of Oaxaca
6.- Certification incentives.
To establish support schemes for producers and thereby stimulate those
who begin to develop these sustainable practices.
7.- Commercialization.
To facilitate the access of producers and consumers to the markets
and commercialization mechanisms at the regional, state, national and
international levels.
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8.- Financing.
In addition to subsidies, promote the intervention of banks and credit
systems with low, flexible interest rates.
9.- Schemes of institutional norms.
Promote the application of federal programs and propose an
improvement in the operating rules for organic production, in addition
to an accreditation system for those who offer their professional services
as well as the community-based technicians of the organizations.
10.- Evaluation & follow up.
Design an operational system for the project, with indicators of results
in relation to the assigned resources and a study of the base line which
will be fundamental for the establishment of the verification parameters
for the hoped-for results.
PHOTO: (4) Carrying out the first Forum and
Exposition of Organic Products in the Paseo Juarez El
Llano, Oaxaca de Juarez, Oaxaca.
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PROPOSAL FOR 2013
I. Stimulate production.
II. Promotion, diffusion &
commercialization.
III. Promotion of certification &
systems of internal control.
Program for training producers.
VI. Financing by means of
the statewide stimulation of
productive activities in Oaxaca
(Fondo Oaxaca).
V. Establishment of norms for
the development of organic
production in Oaxaca.
ADVANCES IN THE ORGANIC OAXACA
PROJECT DURING ITS 2011-2012 EXERCISE.
In order to benefit organic production, with an initial investment of 7
million pesos from the Normal State Program during 2012, different
support was given to the organic sector, highlighting the following:
For the first time there was support for the payment for the certification
of organic coffee, agave for the production of mezcal, honey, mango,
sesame seeds, hibiscus flowers, marmalades and fresh and processed
fruits & vegetables, benefiting more than 9,000 producers in diverse
localities of the eight regions of the state.
There was payment to support the strengthening of the systems of
internal control for the 8 organic bazaars, thus allowing another 223
producers to obtain organic certification by the participatory route.
1,200 packages of organic raw materials were given to producers from
the sector in order to increase the production of crops on 1,200
hectares. There were 7 organic production training workshops for
producers and technicians.
There were 4 regional forums in 4 regions of the state: Mixtec, Coast,
Papaloapan and Cañada. These were carried out to let the involved
producers know about the certification processes, the existing certifying
agencies and the extent of the Organic Oaxaca program.
The first forum and exposition of organic products was carried out on
March 30-31, 2012 in the City of Oaxaca. It achieved ample diffusion
about organic products as well as the building of a consensus among the
different actors of that sector.
CGAI
COORDINACIÓN GENERAL
DE ASUNTOS INTERNACIONALES
GOBIERNO DEL ESTADO DE OAXACA
M: [email protected]
The Organic Oaxaca project of the State
Government of Oaxaca benefits the
Oaxacan countryside and the families
who depend upon it by providing them
with real possibilities for financing,
training, production and
commercialization of organic products, as
well as the recuperation and the ecological
conservation of natural resources, an
improvement of the incomes and quality
of life of the producers, thus leading in
general to inclusive, sustainable rural
development.
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