Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
ended up trying to develop something that was a bit more appropriate' (Agricultural
consultant).
On the basis of this critique, smallholder group certification was devised. This al-
ternative audit arrangement is based on the organization of smallholder farmers into
groups, and with an organic certificate awarded to the group, rather than individu-
al farmers. Management of the group occurs via an Internal Control System (ICS):
an internal quality control document that stipulates requirements related to growing
methods, post-harvest handling, record keeping and other activities. An agricultural
consultant described the ICS model as working in the following way:
he certifying body will take a sample of documents from the ICS, crosshek
those with the actual farmers, make sure the farmers actually exist, make sure
the records we have on the farmers are actually similar to what the farm actually
looks like … and then the certifier basically says, “yes, I think this group can
manage its own control”, or “no, I don't think the group can manage”. … The tra-
ditional European system was that the inspector works directly with a farm and
inspects a whole farm. Now obviously you've got 6000 small farmers, you can't
have a
muzungu
(white person) wandering around for the whole year.
his group audit model has provided a mehanism for smallholders to obtain
organic certification, circumstances that have been associated with social and eco-
nomic benefits for some smallholders. At the same time, smallholder group certific-
ation has also delivered clear benefits for food processors and food export compan-
ies by assisting to secure increased access to certified organic produce. At least 18
export companies in Uganda have received financial support from EPOPA to assist
in the costs of organic certification. At the same time, however, the organic small-
holder certiication sheme has further institutionalized standards compliance as a
precursor for market entry. And while smallholder group certification has enabled
some smallholder farmers to obtain organic certification, many have also been ex-
cluded. Farmers in the Katuulo Organic Pineapple Cooperative, for example, stated
there were many smallholders in the district who wished to join the Katuulo Organic
Pineapple Cooperative - however, the Cooperative were generally unwilling to ex-
pand their membership given they already produced a surplus of organic pineapples;
circumstances whih let many farmers trying to sell their organic produce on the
local market.
On the one hand, the formation of the smallholder group certification system
and ICS audit arrangement beter relects the lived reality of farmers in Uganda, the
