1. Development of Organic Farming and its Mechanism in Global South: A Case Study in Sri Lanka
Daichi Kohmoto
Hiroshima Univ.

3. (%)
No data
Few comprehensive studies have been carried out on the development of OF in developing countries under the global food system
Proportion of organic areas in agricultural areas in each countries (Yussefi and Willer, 2004)

4. Objective To examine the development of organic farming (OF)
and clarify
its mechanism in Global South
under the global food system.

5. Organic Farming
Originally developed as a typical alternative to the mainstream global food supply system and productivism
Expected to be an environmentally, socially, and economically just and sustainable farming method
Rural dev. & Env. conservation

6. Why in Sri Lanka?
1. The government and companies have positive attitudes toward the export of organic products
2. OF has been introduced in two agricultural sectors
Plantations
　　　　ex. Tea estates
Small farmers　
　　　　ex. Agro-forestry
… typical in Global South
3. The small scale of the country
　Suitable for conducting research on a national scale

7. Sri Lankan Agriculture
Changes in Cultivation Areas of Major Crops
Source: Min. of Agriculture (-1994), Dept. of Census and Statistics (1995-).

8. Changes in Sources of Foreign Exchanges in SL
Source: “Economic and Social Statistics of Sri Lanka” (various issues), Central Bank of Sri Lanka, etc.

9. Altitude

10. Development of OF in SL
>28
>8
>10
>39

11. Development of OF in Tea Estates
World-first certified organic tea estate in 1986
Cultivated and processed by 9 companies (5 are dealing with only organic)
Mainly in Up-country
Exporting to GER, USA, JPN, AUS, FRA …

12. Stassen Natural Food (Pvt) Ltd. Idulgashinna Bio Tea Garden

14. Export amount of Stassen Natural (Pvt) Ltd. by countries in 2003

15. Organizing small organic farmers groups
Distribution of the groups
- Close to Airport & Colombo
- Some are in less-favored areas
HQs are in Colombo
(incl. dealers)
Spice, Coconut, Fruits etc.
Exporting to GER, UK, JPN, USA, FRA, AUS, NEL…

16. Tropical Health Food (Pvt) Ltd.
Established by Dutch with SLn farmers in 1995
Cultivating 15 spices by OF method
Processing Pineapple juice, Mango juice, Dried fruits, Coconut mix etc.

17. Organizing 26 Small holder farmer units (414 farmers)
1. Selecting production areas characterized by “organic in default”
2. Negotiating with local farmers
3. Contraction
Certified by a Dutch organic certification body “Skal”
　　⇒Skal established a branch in Colombo
　　⇒Certified 21 companies in SL
Exporting to Netherland & Germany

18. Actors and Interrelationships in OF in Global South
Organic certification from Industrialized countries for Exports
Actors and Interrelationships
in OF in Global South
Location pattern
…Convenience for exporting, Less-favored areas (Some)
Industrialized
Consumers
Countries
Certification Bodies
Buyers
Int’l. Orgs.
Agri -
business
NGOs
Small
farmers’
groups
Plantations
Gvt .
Small
Farmers
Global South
Estate
Workers
ex. Sri Lanka 26

19. NGOs Activities >39NGOs
- Rural development NGOs
- Environmental NGOs
- Integrated typed NGOs
- Agr. specific typed NGOs
Whole island (X Colombo, LTTE controlling areas)
Veg., Rice, Fruits, Spice etc.
Mainly for domestic consumption with no certifications

20. Established in 1977

23. “Rural development through the promotion of OF” from 1986

24. Financial assistance
- Helvetas (Switzerland)
- Hivos (Netherland)
etc.

25. Neo-Synthesis Research Centre
1982 –
Env. Restoration
& Promotion of OF
“Forest Garden Products” certification

29. Problem is in the marketing ⇒One SLn company exporting spice
(2000 -)
Technical cooperation with SLn &
South Asian NGOs
Financial assistance
AusAID (Australia)
AFAP (Australia)
USAID (USA)
UNDP-GEF

30. Global South ex. Sri Lanka
Promoting OF for Rural development & Env. reasons
Location of NGO offices and Crops promote …Diverse
A few NGO are active in OF promotion …Support by Int’l. Orgs
Industrialized
Consumers
Countries
Certification Bodies
Buyers
Int’l. Orgs.
Agri -
business
NGOs
Small
farmers’
groups
Plantations
Gvt .
Small
Farmers
Global South
Estate
Workers
ex. Sri Lanka 26

31. Support from the Government
Gov. had been negative toward OF
　 …Subsidizing Chemical fertilizer & Low input agr.
1/18 major policies in “National Policy on Agr. & Livestock ”
　↑- Expanding the market =Increasing opportunities for export
　　 - Lobbying activities by NGOs
Tea Research Institute
R&D for organic cultivation method for tea
Test growing of organic tea together with plantation estates

32. Export Development Board
Marketing of organic products providing the information
Participation to international exhibitions of organic /natural foods by organizing a Sri Lankan companies’ group
Min. of Env., Min. of Agr., and domestic NGOs
Establishment of an original organic certification system in 2006

33. Global South ex. Sri Lanka
Development of OF in SL has been Endogenous to some extent
OF in the South will continue to develop depending on exports
Gvt., which promoted Green Revolution, has changed its attitude toward OF
Public benefit actors need to give priority to promoting OF in env. sensitive areas and socio-economically less-favored areas
Industrialized
Consumers
Countries
Certification Bodies
Buyers
Int’l. Orgs.
Agri -
business
NGOs
Small
farmers’
groups
Plantations
Gvt .
Small
Farmers
Global South
Estate
Workers
ex. Sri Lanka 26

34. Thank you for your attention.