Smallholder integrated organic farming: how can it work in the tropics?

Publication date: 26/02/2019
Extent: 18 pages

Contributions by: Raphael Wahome and Caroline Chepkoech, University of Nairobi, Kenya

Chapter synopsis: Organic animal farming in the tropics varies considerably across countries and regions, and comprises many different types of systems with significant variation in the degree to which animals are integrated into the systems. The chapter focuses on the issues associated with keeping animals on organic farms in the tropical regions of the world where smallholder systems dominate and will draw specifically on experiences from smallholder dairy farms in East Africa to unfold some of the challenges and opportunities that these systems can face. After giving an overview of tropical animal production and organic and smallholder farming, the chapter describes organic standards for animal husbandry in the tropics and challenges faced by tropical organic animal farmers.

DOI: 10.19103/AS.2017.0028.10