ProClimate challenge:

Best practices in smallholder climate adaptation and mitigation

1. Contact Details

Title of project: / Mountain Microorganism Technology – To enhance soil health and fertility of smallholders in East Africa
Name of the organization: / EcoSustain Africa
Type of organization (producer organization, ngo, etc) / Consultancy – (Advise, Technical Support and Research)
Commodity (coffee/cocoa/cotton/tea) / Coffee, Cocoa and Tea
Name of contact person: / Ing. Kalema Andrew Joseph
City/Country / Kampala – Uganda
E-mail: /
Telephone: / +256(0)782 879614
Website (if available):

2. Description of your best practice

1.  Please give a short description of the best practice you wish to enter into the challenge (max 500 words)

Small-scale producers are still the backbone of agricultural production in Africa. Eighty percent of rural African people depend on smallholder agriculture for their livelihood. Agricultural quality and productivity has remained largely low due to bad farming practices that have damaged the health and fertility of Africa's soil. With little access to organic fertilizers, farmers are forced to bring less fertile soils into production at the expense of Africa’s wildlife and forests.
The Mountain Microorganisms (MM) Technology is a technique that uses microorganisms to make quality organic, liquid and solid fertilizers from organic waste or residual materials found around the farm(s). The MM are obtained from natural forests, reproduced locally by the farmers using available inputs, and then used in the preparation of organic fertilizers (Bioles and Bokashi). The mountain microorganisms fasten the process of fermenting the organic materials and they become ready for application in less than a month. The application of these different types of organic fertilizers plays a vital role in the restoration of depleted soil health and nutrition hence improving crop productivity and quality.
A primary forest acts as a stable and equilibrated source of these mountain microorganisms. A few quantity of decomposing ground plant debris in the forest is collected and used as source of MM. It contains beneficial fermenting microorganisms such as yeast, photosynthetic bacteria, Lactic Acid bacteria and a number of other important microorganisms. They are then reproduced or cultured locally in a solution of molasses to contain them in a solution form for further utilization. The MM solution is then incorporated in farm organic plant and animal residues to prepare quality organic solid (Bokashi) and liquid (Bioles) fertilizers. When applied to the soil, these improve the soil’s microbial health and promote a healthy environment for plant growth.
Some advantages of the MM technology:
·  Empowers producers to utilize low cost inputs – organic material effectively and efficiently to maximally benefit without depending on high cost chemical inputs.
·  It is easy to learn and be understood by any producer since it’s also practical in nature.
·  The fact that these microorganisms are obtained from a natural, stable ecosystem conditions in the locality of the farmer(s), they easily adapt to their farm conditions.
·  The use of these organic quality fertilizers increase soil life and soil water retention capacity
·  It accelerates the recycling process of organic waste material hence reduces emission of GHG and environmental pollution.

2.  What relation does this best practice have to climate change? Is it helping your organization to adapt to climate change or is it contributing to reducing climate change? In what way? (max 200 words)

In the fast instance, the technology provides the producers with a sense of care, protecting and conserving the environment. The recycling of organic farm residues be it from plants or animals or a combination of them, reduces the emission of chemical products or gases that would have diverse effects on the environment. For example, the technology prevents burning of crop residues, promotes minimum tillage and also eliminates accumulation of animals waste on farm which ignites the production of gases that affect the ozone layer. This technology also helps to trap and concentrate the amount of carbon, in form of humus into the soil without being released into the atmosphere hence reducing on climate change.
Soil health or life also plays a vital role in the formation of soil structures, texture as well as the growth of plants. The microbial activity and that of other macro organisms in the soil plays a big role of adapting the crops/plants to climate change. This is through the relationship built between them and the plant. These microorganisms also produce substances that improve the soil structure hence giving it the capacity to absorb and contain sufficient water for plants, even during periods of water scarcity. Therefore, plants become less stressed and are less attacked by plant diseases. In this case producers will be able to adapt to and contribute to reducing climate change.

3.  What is the business case for this best practice? How can continuation of activities in the future be financed without outside help? (max 200 words)

The business case could be seen in the following perspectives:
1.  As the adoption of the practice increase among producers, high quality produce will be achieved. A price tag for this quality will be lobbied in commodity market, meaning a higher price will be fetched for the quality of their produce. In other words, producer organizations could lobby for markets or buyers that are willing to pay a “premium price” for implementing this best practice thus able to pay for any activity or input that comes along with it.
2.  The second business scenario is when producer organizations up-scale the production of these organic fertilizers by setting up composting facility to manage generated waste material from processing their produce. This large scale production and supply to members or other organizations that need it in large quality but are limited with input resources available on their farms. The organization could generate income from sell of input fertilizers and can also generate income from selling this ecosystem service to urban municipalities to manage urban organic garbage. More still producers could sell other ecosystem service of carbon and water footprints (emission reduction and improving soil water retention capacity) to buyers of environmental services around the world.

4.  What is the potential for this best practice to be implemented in other organisations or even sectors or how can it be significantly scaled up within its own context? (max 200 words)

The technology can be easily implemented in other sectors or organizations. For instance the solution of Mountain Microorganisms can be used in the decontamination of residual waters from food processing facilities, Abattoirs (animal slaughter plants), fish farming ponds, residual water from landfills and etc.
The Mountain Microorganism technology can also be implemented in livestock sector. In this case it is used in the elimination of bad odour in cattle kraal, pig style, in poultry houses and etc.
The MM technology could also be used by urban municipality departments to manage and recycle organic waste, converting it into a fertilizer that can be accessed or sold to producer organizations. In the same way, producer organization with facilities for processing coffee, can utilize the technology to manage water residues and converting coffee husks or pulp into quality organic fertilizer.
The technology can be scaled up by producing and packaging the MM solution in various volume packs. This can be supplies to individuals, organization or companies involved in various sectors to meet their demand (recycling garbage, treating water, fish farming, elimination of bad adour, improving crop productivity, etc).

5.  What other value chain actors are involved in this best practice and what is their role? (max 200 words)

Being a new technique in Africa, the key value chain actors involved include Community-based organizations (Coffee and Cocoa Producer Organizations) such as Nsangi Coffee Farmers Association, Coffee a cup, Makokoto Farmers’ Cooperative and WEBUFADA which are promoting it among their members in Uganda. The International Development Program such as Progreso Program that supported its introduction and promotion in Africa.

6.  How does this best practice influence the living conditions of smallholder farmers? (max 200 words)

The Mountain Microorganism technique empowers producers to sustainably increase their production and quality by applying quality organic fertilizers produced locally. The technique saves money for the farmer and generates high and consistent income. The fact that it can also be implemented in all farming activities, a farmer can also produce sufficient food to feed his/her family all year around. With increase in farmers income coupled with better health status, farmers in Africa will be able to come out of poverty, educate their children, construct permanent houses and also invest in other business ventures to diversify their incomes. Other incidences such as soil erosion and water floods on their farmers will also be prevented hence having a sustainable income and food production.

If you have any documents or visual materials (powerpoint, video, photo) that you feel support you application, please add as an annex to this application format.

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Pro Climate Challenge 2011