15 Years of Biovision

15 years of Biovision

A future for all, naturally

Contents President’s Foreword

3

CEO’s Report

4

Biovision – a holistic approach Human Health Animal Health Plant Health Health of the Environment Dissemination of Information

6 10 14 18 22

Biovision profile and thanks

26

Diligence and Transparency Biovision Foundation uses its funds carefully and targeted. It is a cha­ rity, subject to the Swiss Federal supervisory body for foundations and is certified by ZEWO, the Swiss Foundation setting the standards for organisations collecting donations. The accounting follows the recom­ mendations of the Swiss GAAP FER21 and is subject to an external audit.

Our annual report is public and available on www.biovision.ch/ar.

Foreword | 3

Dear Benefactors,

15 years ago I and several like-minded individuals founded Biovision with the aim of achieving a sustainable improvement in the lives of the people of East Africa. As the name of the foundation implies, our vision is a fairer world in which healthy people live in a healthy environment. Our grassroot projects are developed in close co­o­peration with local partners and we stress the importance of a holistic approach and involving those immediately affected. Po­ verty, malnutrition, disease, crop failure and environmental damage in Africa are not an inevitable fact of nature. Quite the opposite as I firmly believe that an integrated approach can do much to improve the situation. We can actually alleviate many of the problems in the areas in which we work by adopting scientifically based, locally adapted and sustainable methods of preventive health care, biological pest control and ecological agriculture.

Therefore we are seeking to strengthen multifunctional, ecological and socially res­ponsible farming structures based on smallholders which can make a decisive contribution to sustainable development.

To further this aim, Biovision lobbied hard during the “Rio+20” conference on sustai­ nable development and in so doing forged new alliances. For example, we were one of those instrumental in ensuring that the Final Declaration included a commitment to the development of sustainable agriculture. As a result of our commitment, Biovision has now been granted General Consultative Status at ECOSOC of the UN, the first Swiss NGO with this status, giving Biovision access to UN conferences and the right to participate in official discussions.

Our po­licy of combining concrete projects on the ground with a mandate to speak up for the concerns of small farmers at the highest level has proved its worth.

There are more than 500 million farmers worldwide and I have no doubt that that they could feed growing populations in developing countries using ecological far­ ming methods. This is evident from both the International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) on global agriculture and the UNEP Report on the Green Economy to which I was able to contribute.

However, if we are to stop agriculture depleting soil fertility, prevent further deforestation and avoid destroying other valuable ecosystems, we must first revise the existing framework: This includes better education for small farmers, a reorientation of agricultural research and a political change of direction that encourages sustainability. Only then can we correct the mistakes of intensive farming with its waste of resources and the one-sided dependence on a few high-yield varieties.

In this Jubilee Report, we are looking both back and forward. In our first 15 years, we have navigated a challenging path from small NGO to an internationally respected political force committed to sustainable agriculture. Your loyal support has played a decisive role in our achievements to date.

With your help, Biovision can continue to make an impact in the future and so I look forward to the continuation of our fruitful partnership.

With my sincere thanks

Dr. Hans Rudolf Herren

Dr. Hans Rudolf Herren Laureate of the World Food Prize and Biovision President

CEO’s Report Andreas Schriber CEO of Biovision Foundation

Between flourishing vegetable gardens and the world stage On a visit in January 2013 to the West Ethio­pian region of Benishangul-Gumuz – close to the border with Sudan – I met smallholder Mulu Dimissea. Mulu, a 42year old widow with three children, proudly showed me around the farm with its goat shed, neatly fenced hen run, young mules and a new brick grain store to protect the harvest from rodents. Its large vegetable garden is located some distance from the farmstead on a terraced hillside. On the other side of the valley the reddish laterite soils are badly rutted by erosion whereas in Mulu’s garden you will find potatoes, salad crops, onions, garlic, chili and tomatoes all flourishing between the lemon and banana trees. The garden was built following agro-ecological principles.

Major improvement in living conditions Mulu Dimissea is one of the 600 farmers who have so far completed a course in agro-ecological farming at our Biofarm training centre in the nearby regional capital of Assosa. The courses include infor­ mation on how to restore the fertility of leached soils using compost, animal dung and adapted methods of cultivation. Mulu herself lives in Amba-3, a village of some 300 people where as representative of the local farming group she passes on her new knowledge to other local farmers.

“I am happy that at my age I have been able to learn so much and pass on this know­ ledge,” says Mulu leafing through the first edition of our Farmer Magazine in the Amharic language. With a smile, she adds that she can’t actually read properly and did not learn how to write. “However, I was able to earn enough to send my three children to school and they read the magazine out loud to me”.

Visible success This heartening meeting with an indepen­ dently minded woman is representative of the many success stories in the 15-year history of Biovision of which it can be justly proud. As this example shows, you can break the vicious circle of poverty, malnutrition and environmental damage in rural Africa by providing education, social status and opportunities for income generation.

We have proof of this from our experience in our own projects, but it is also backed up by the results of scientific research. We focus our work on areas south of the Sahara where the need for education on improving food security through ecological farming is the most urgent. Farmers receive almost no help from their governments and have few opportunities for education even though the supply of food to the population is largely dependent upon these family farms.

The way they deal with natural resources such as the soil, forests and water also has an effect on the climate and biodiversity and so are crucial to the prospects of future generations.

Ecological farming as survival strategy In the area around Assosa, the precarious situation of the local population is exacerbated by the influx of refugees from conflict regions in neighbouring North and South Sudan. This influx is also one of the reasons why fertile land is in such short supply. In addition, few can afford artificial fertilisers or expensive seeds. Bioeconomy Africa (BEA) – our partner in Ethiopia – teaches students at the training centre in Assosa how to maximise production using locally available resources without damaging the environment. As in most developing countries, ecological farming is not a luxury. It is a survival strategy. The Biofarm also teaches students about family planning, health care and employing biological me­

CEO’s Report | 5

Ethiopian smallholder Mulu Dimissea, sitting in front of her home, tells Biovision CEO Andreas Schriber about her course at the Biofarm training centre.

thods for the sustainable management of tsetse flies.

Needs-based development In developing and implementing our projects we focus on the basic needs of local people. For that reason, those immediately affected together with organisations with strong local links and similar aims are closely involved in projects. We are guided at all times by the Foundation’s vision of “a world with enough healthy nutrition for all, produced by healthy people in a healthy environment”. This vision is based on a holistic strategy and scientifically based interventions. A central plank of our 4H+i approach (see graph) is broad access to information and practical knowledge. In East Africa, we disseminate this information through a wide range of communication programmes for small farmers and their families.

International advocacy Politics and big business have tended to neglect the concerns of small farmers and this is threatening their survival. For some years, Biovision – as highlighted by Hans Herren in his Foreword – has argued on the political stage for a change of course in global agriculture, supported by the global programme for food security of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

Our education programmes for small farmers in Africa will only bear fruit long term if we can achieve a change of direction globally in favour of sustainable development – faithful to our motto of “A future for all, naturally”.

Since its inception, Biovision has pursued the holistic “4H plus i” strategy based on the conviction that sustainable development is only possible if humans, animals, plants and the environment are equally “HEALTHY”. The “i” stands for information and combines all aspects of health and the dissemination of practical knowledge to local people, as well as our activities raising awareness at national and international political levels for the necessary framework for a sustainable develop­ ment.

Sister Carmelina St. Joseph Mission Hospital, Nyabondo, Kenya

“Since the project started at the end of 2004, there has been a significant reduction in mosquito numbers. Previously, particularly in May and June, one person died from malaria practically every day.

Today it’s quite different and it’s a long time since we had anybody die in the hospital from the disease”.

Information on the correct use of Mosquito nets is part of the Integrated Vector Management approach.

Human Health | 7

Stop Malaria

Effective protection against the deadly disease Every year, almost 1 million people in Africa alone die from malaria, transmitted by infected mosquitos. The deadly disease can be fought at its source with sustainable methods. The key is to provide targeted information and involve the local population.

The success of this approach is clear from the malaria projects supported by Biovision in Kenya and Ethiopia.

Facts and Figures • 64–79% reduction in the number of diagnosed malaria cases in children under 14 years of age in Malindi from 2002 to 2009. The IVM approach advocated by Biovision has now been adopted by the health authorities in the Malindi District.

They in turn are promoting IVM to authorities in neighbouring districts.

• 49% reduction in the number of malaria cases and a 35% reduction in those under 5 years of age in the Military Hospital in Tolay between 2008 and 2012.

• Malaria information days in Malindi, Tolay and Nyabondo attract up to 7 000 participants per year and so raise awareness of malaria prevention.

Examples of current projects • HH-07: Malaria Programme From 2013, there are three individual projects in Malindi and Nyabondo in Kenya and Tolay in Ethiopia together with an outreach campaign to promote the IVM method.

For more information see www.biovision.ch/en/projects/

Nyabondo lies on a high plateau in Western Kenya close to Lake Victoria and until recently it offered countless ideal breeding sites for the Anopheles mosquito. The main source of income in the region is the manufacture of handmade bricks and the extraction of the required clay leaves behind countless depressions in which water collects. During the rainy season, millions of mosquitos emerge and swarm around the ponds. A bite from an infected mosquito will transmit the parasite plasmodium into the human blood stream. The result a few days later is a high fever, shivering attacks, gastrointestinal problems and stomach cramps. Sufferers become weak and are unable to do anything. Malaria primarily affects those with weak immune systems, particularly pregnant women and children under 5 years of age. Each year, there are some 300 million malaria cases worldwide and of these one million will die. Malaria is a treatable disease and sufferers die from a lack of medical treatment. About 90% of deaths occur in Sub-Saharan Africa – the majority infants and young children.

New hope in Nyabondo Previously, malaria claimed lives on an almost daily basis during the rainy season in Nyabondo. Now, it causes but a few deaths.

These improvements are the result of the malaria project run since 2004 by Biovision in conjunction with icipe, the international insect research centre in Kenya.

The first stage was to educate the local population on the dangers of stagnant water. The project used popular means such as puppet theatre to take the message direct to schools, markets and village centres. Working with the local community, ditches were dug close to settlements in order to drain the ponds. The clay depres-

sions were levelled and water was extracted from any other potential breeding sites for the Anopheles mosquito. If this was not possible, e.g. because the ponds were used for storing water, specially trained mosquito scouts monitored the potential breeding grounds. If necessary, reservoirs, etc. were sprayed with the non-polluting bacterium Bti that destroys the mosquitos at the larval stage. Fish farming is another example of a successful method of biological mosquito control. The fish not only eat the mosquitos and their larvae, but their subsequent inclusion in the rural diet increases protein intake.

Finally, local communities learned how to protect themselves from the remaining mosquitos: Mosquito nets over beds and insect grills in front of doors and windows minimise the risk of being bitten as mosquitos are particularly active at night.

Success in urban areas as well Integrated malaria prevention has also been successful in the coastal town of Malindi, Kenya on the Indian Ocean. As in Nyabondo, extensive publicity has drawn attention to the causes of malaria and easy ways for residents to protect themselves.

This has been accompanied by mutually reinforcing measures that experts call Integrated Vector Management (IVM). This has significantly reduced mosquito populations with the result that within three years of the start of the project the incidence of new malaria infections had dropped by 50% and continues to decline. This means that far fewer children now die from this infectious disease.

Extending a proven concept Biovision, in conjunction with its partners in Africa, icipe and KEMRI, the Kenya Medical Research Institute, has now success-

Human Health | 9

Street Theatre explaining the causes of malaria and ways to prevent it.

Bti, a non-polluting bacterium sprayed onto large expanses of water or drinking water reservoirs renders mosquito larvae harmless.

At UN conferences, Biovision calls for a ban on the notorious insecticide DDT and explains the sustainable alternatives.

fully introduced the concept of sustainable malaria prevention in Malindi, Nyabondo and in Tolay in Ethiopia. Biovision now wishes to extend the IVM approach and introduce effective malaria control at national levels. This would exceed the resources of a non-governmental organisation and so Biovision is successfully raising awareness at the political level. It is seeking to persuade public bodies and decision makers that health protection measures to prevent malaria should be regarded as a state res­ ponsibility.

Success on the political stage A milestone on route to this goal is Kenya’s national strategy of an integrated malaria management which our local partners helped develop.

At an international level, we are committed to a world-wide ban on the insecticide DDT, which has been prohibited in the developed countries for decades. Large amounts of the long-lasting poison are still being sprayed in houses in many parts of Africa.

As mosquitos have now developed a resis­ tance to this dangerous chemical, it often has no effect. And as remnants of the poison are deposited around the sprayed houses, it destroys the basis for organic farming und ruins the existence of smallholders. One such example from Uganda was brought to public attention in 2011 and international media, such as the New York Times, El Pais, Die Zeit and Neue Zuercher Zeitung reported the case extensively. As a result, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants restarted the debate over a complete ban of DDT and we continue to advocate such a ban.

Menur Nuredin Farmer and father in Guraghe, Ethiopia

“Before the project started, tsetse flies were killing the oxen, cows, calves and mules.

Today, we again have healthy working animals and I can cultivate four times as much land as I could with my hoe and harvests have increased�.

Oxen are used in Ethiopia for ploughing. If tsetse flies infect the oxen with the deadly Nagana disease, crop yields plummet.

Animal Health | 11

Improvements in livestock farming

Animal diseases threaten livelihoods In many areas of Africa, the deadly tsetse fly and increasingly difficult climatic conditions are making livestock farming more difficult. Biovision is successfully helping village communities combat these dangerous insects. Improved animal husbandry is also the basis for achieving sustainable increases in yields and creates new sources of income.

Facts and Figures • Plagues of tsetse flies in Luke were largely eliminated within two years of the start of the Biovision project.

• The increase in cattle numbers has tripled milk yields and increased cultivated land twelvefold.

• The tsetse campaign in Ethiopia increased the monthly income of households in project locations from 2002 to 2007 from US$15 to US$148. In addition, the higher income levels increased school attendance in these locations from 10% (1995) to 94% (2007).

Examples of current projects • AH-04: Tsetse fly control and organic farming • AH-05: Camel programme in response to climate change For more information see www.biovision.ch/en/projects/

The alluvial soils in lowland areas close to rivers are usually extremely fertile and so are ideal for arable and livestock farming.

However, in tropical Africa a verdant landscape is not an automatic guarantee of a carefree existence. Millions live in areas in which the tsetse fly also thrives. It feeds off human and animal blood and when the tsetse fly sucks the blood of its victim, it transmits the parasite trypanosoma, some species of which are extremely dangerous.

This causes sleeping sickness in humans and the Nagana disease in animals. Unless treated, both result in death.

Tsetse flies create a poverty trap This was the situation just a few years ago in the area around Luke in the Ethiopian Gibe Valley where the increasing prevalence of the dangerous tsetse flies was tipping rural households into poverty. The wholesale death of calves, cows and oxen not only resulted in a shortage of meat and milk but drastically reduced the supply of plants for human consumption. In many parts of Africa, arable farmers still use oxen to work the land and so the death of oxen meant that heavy work had to be done by hand, which dramatically reduced the area of land under cultivation. Faced with this emergency, the villagers approached specialists at icipe, the international insect research centre. In order to contain transmission, icipe suggested using specially coloured odour traps to catch the deadly tsetse flies. Using an elaborate network of monitoring traps and regular blood tests of cattle, they identified the parasitic infestation and its distribution. Combined with the associated scientific measures, they were able to bring the spread of the disease under control.

New opportunities for local people The local community is directly involved in the implementation of this sustainable method of insect control. Specially trained farmers set the traps and provide regular maintenance. Within two years of Biovision joining the project, the army of tsetse flies in Luke had been largely defeated through the widespread use of traps. Livestock numbers increased, milk yields tripled and the land under cultivation increased twelvefold. Equally positive was the effect on food supplies and human health. In addition, local people were able to invest some of their income in a village school.

Biovision has also been involved in similar projects for tsetse fly control in Tolay in South West Ethiopia and in Assosa on the border with Sudan, which have been equally successful.

Broader approach needed To prevent the increase in livestock numbers from depleting natural resources, the concept has been developed further. In the rural hinterland of the district capital of Assosa, the project is promoting not only animal health but a multi-faceted and holistic approach to farming. This includes the sustainable use of natural resources such as nutrients obtained from plant residues and animal dung. Biovision is supporting the model farm developed by Bioeconomy Africa (BEA), which serves as a practical education and training centre. Each year, hundreds of small farmers learn, for example, how to improve soil fertility and increase yields using compost dung and companion planting but without increasing the area of land under cultivation. By combining livestock and arable farming, the aim is to improve food security for farming families and to use the surplus production as an urgently needed source of income.

Animal Health | 13

The smell of cattle urine in a bottle on the ground and the blue-coloured cloth attract the tsetse flies. They land on the black surface and fly to the brightest point. They end up in the trap and are caught.

Camels are more resistant to climate change than cattle and so are a promising alternative for livestock farmers in the arid areas of Africa.

Working with local partners BEA and icipe, who have good links with local government agencies, the project is seeking to increase the commitment shown by the Ethiopian authorities. It is advocating comprehensive tsetse fly campaigns using sustainable methods combined with integrated support for organic crop systems in other areas of the country.

Camel husbandry in arid areas Biovision is also active in the arid regions of Kenya where it supports adapted livestock farming and the development of new sources of income. In the North Eastern District of Isiolo, both humans and animals are suffering the effects of severe droughts which occur more and more frequently. We are therefore supporting the development of camel herds. Camels are highly resistant to drought conditions and help the nomadic and semi-nomadic people adapt to climate change. Unlike the cow, these ungulates can manage for long periods of time without water and so can survive a lengthy drought period. Cattle herds are dependent upon grass but camels can survive, if necessary, on acacia leaves and prickly shrubs. In addition, their soft feet do not damage the sensitive soils and with it the fragile ecosystem.

There is demand for camel milk, meat and leather and the animals are also valued for transport purposes. Camels provide a sustainable improvement to farming incomes.

The targeted education of local vets is developing the specialist knowledge required for keeping camels and maintaining their health. This will ensure that this knowledge is embedded in the local community.

Lucy Wanijru Widow and grandmother from Kigio, Kenya

“My six grandchildren and I have a hard life.

Thanks to Push-Pull, I have increased my maize harvest, improved the quality of feed and tripled milk yields. I now find it easier to make ends meet�.

Farmers in East Africa using ecological methods achieve good yields from their maize fields.

Plant Health | 15

Food Security

Sustainable prevention of crop failures In the last 10 years, ecological farming methods have allowed tens of thousands small farmers in Kenya to significantly increase their yields. The Push-Pull method of maize cultivation supported by Biovision has been particularly successful. Push-Pull, which is tailored specifically to conditions in Africa has improved food security and made a major contribution to the fight against poverty.

Facts and figures • Using the Push-Pull method, small farmers have increased their maize and millet yields by 200%–300%.

• Since the start of the project around Lake Victoria in 2006, the number of farmers using the Push-Pull method has in­ creased to 50 000.

• Income security for 200 widows and single mothers in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa following training in the use of organic farming methods.

Examples of current projects • PH-01: Push-Pull, Lake Victoria • PH-05: Push-Pull Central Kenya • PH-06: Advancement of women through organic farming • PH-07: Fruit fly control • PH-08: Push-Pull Tolay For more information see www.biovision.ch/en/projects/

As in many Sub-Saharan countries, maize is a major food source in Kenya. Most far­ mers in rural areas are subsistence farmers and the increasingly arid conditions resulting from global climate change combined with pest infestation often cause serious crop failures. In addition to drought, farming families have to contend with other problems such as leached soils, the larvae of the stemborer moth and finally striga.

Striga, a weed particularly common in East Africa is a parasitic plant that damages the roots of the maize plants and eventually kills them. The effects of the stemborer moth are equally devastating. It lays its eggs on the maize leaves and when the larvae hatch, they gnaw holes in the plant, eat their way through the stalks and the plant withers before the cobs can ripen. If both pests occur simultaneously, this can drastically reduce yields and in some cases result in a total failure of the maize crop.

Attacking the root of the problem During the 1990s, icipe, the international insect research institute in Nairobi developed the sustainable Push-Pull method as a way of tackling the root cause of the problem. With this method, desmodium, a ground-covering leguminous plant is planted between the rows of maize. It protects the fields from erosion, improves the retention of moisture in the soil and fixes the nitrogen in the air improving nitrogen absorption. The maize plants, which need considerable energy, then obtain sufficient quantities of this most important nutrient without further leaching of the soil. However, there are other benefits to farmers because desmodium prevents the spread of the aggressive weed striga. Its smell repels the stemborer moths and so the moths are pushed away from the cultivated crop (the push element). The pull element is the napier grass planted as a

border crop. Its smell attracts the moths to lay their eggs, but when the eggs hatch and the larvae bore their way into the stem, the plant produces a sticky substance which traps and kills them.

Significant yield increases Small farmers are trained at the numerous farming schools in the areas around Lake Victoria and Central Kenya. When farmers subsequently introduce the inexpensive Push-Pull method, maize and millet yields are increased by 250% to 300%. Push-Pull uses organic methods that do not rely on artificial fertilizers or synthetic pesticides.

In addition, desmodium and napier grass are high in protein and after the maize is harvested, the plants are used as high-qua­ lity cattle fodder. This in turn increases milk yields, improves food security and so benefits the health of the local families. In addition, the sale of surplus animal feed and milk products increases incomes.

KARI, Kenya’s national agricultural research institute has supported the PushPull method in Central Kenya since 2010. It is a partner in the Biovision project and works closely with farmers’ groups and icipe. Together, they are developing solutions to specific problems, e.g. the vulnerability of desmodium und napier grass to aridity and viral diseases during periods of drought. Some success has already been achieved with the development of more robust varieties with a higher resistance.

Development of marketing chains To help the rural population sell its surplus production, Biovision is helping local partner organisations set up farming cooperatives, local supply chains and new outlets for their products, e.g. for milk products such as yoghurt drinks. One of the benefits of the project area in Central Kenya is its

Plant Health | 17

Push-Pull combats maize pests: desmodium planted between the rows of maize and napier grass planted at the edges of fields.

In the slums of Addis Ababa, women used organic methods to improve leached soils and planted a profitable vegetable garden.

Biovision campaigns at the political level for a fairer framework and a global “greening� of agriculture – as in May 2012 jointly with Ethiopian farmers in the run-up to the Rio+20 conference on sustainable development.

proximity to the capital of Nairobi with some 3 million inhabitants.

To help safeguard the income of farming households during periods of drought, the project will provide practical training on how to conserve animal fodder by drying (hay) or fermentation (silage).

Regeneration of leached soils A flagship project in the slums of Addis Ababa supported by Biovision has demonstrated that organic farming methods can transform even degraded soils into fertile fields. A self-help group of 200 women has been working on the site of a former eucalyptus plantation at the edge of the city that had been stripped bare by goats and eroded by rain. Applying compost and animal dung and using drip irrigation systems, they have restored the land for vegetable growing. The group, consisting of widows and single mothers not only grow enough vegetables for their own families, but sells the surplus and so earn an income. In addition, organic farming methods will underpin the planned introduction of cattle and poultry farming. In time, it is also planned to open a restaurant, a local vegetable market and a nursery to help with child care.

James Ligare Ocimum farmer and head of the Muliru Farmers’ Group in Kakamega, Kenya

“I wasn’t able to make enough money from farming previously. The medicinal plant project changed all that. I now grow medicinal plants and my income has increased”.

Kakamega is the last remaining rainforest in Kenya. It can only survive if local people are offered attractive ways to earn an income without damaging the ecosystem further.

Health of the Environment | 19

Protecting natural resources

Living from nature without destroying it As elsewhere in developing countries, the wellbeing of many living in East Africa depends upon the quality of the environment. If natural resources such as soil, forests, water or biodiversity are degraded, people usually suffer as well. That is why Biovision is encouraging new sources of income based on a sustainable use of ecosystems.

Facts and figures • The Cabesi Project has increased honey production from 10 tonnes in 2007 (start of project) to 50 tonnes in 2012.

• More than 400 000 Naturub® products have been sold since the start of the project.

• 300% increase in the average income of small farmers in Kakamega since the start of the project.

Examples of current projects • EH-03/05: Income from medicinal plants • EH-07: Bees’ products, Tolay • EH-08: Health of the Environment • EH-10: Forest School in Mpigi For more information see www.biovision.ch/en/projects/

The Kakamega Forest in Western Kenya covers about 240 square kilometres of land. Although only 0.04% of the country’s land surface, this Eastern fragment of the Guineo-Congoloian rainforest that pre­ viously stretched from the Atlantic coast through West and Central Africa almost to the Indian Ocean contains more than 20% of Kenya’s animal and plant species. However, the majority of species are now confined to this remnant of rainforest. During the 20th century, Kenya lost about 90% of its original rainforest through deforestation, slash-and-burn techniques and the encroachment of cultivated land.

Although the Kakamega Forest is now a National Reserve and so under state protection, the rapid increase in the local population continues to exert significant pressure on the forest as a resource. The growing demand for timber for construction and fuel, herbaceous plants and arable land represents a permanent threat to this last remaining contiguous forest eco­system in Kenya’s rainforest belt.

Developing sustainable sources of income Overexploitation threatens not just the region’s biodiversity but also jeopardises the important ecosystem services provided by the rainforest. These services include the stabilising effect of the rainforest on the local climate and its role in water storage, including the supply of clean drinking water to adjoining settlements. To break the downward spiral of existential poverty and deforestation and retain these natural resources long term, new sources of income must be found for the rural population living near the Kakamega National Reserve.

Since 2004, Biovision has supported a project in the region that encourages small

farmers living on the edge of the rainforest to use sustainable methods to grow herbs and medicinal plants. The products are then sold to the local farming cooperative so that the active ingredients can be extracted. For example, oil is extracted from Kilimanjaro basil at a local, environmentally-friendly distillery and turned into Africa’s version of “tiger balm”. This has allowed the small farmers involved in the project to triple their income. This popular healing ointment is marketed under the brand name Naturub® and can be bought in Kenya’s large supermarkets.

Building on success Together with its partners in Africa, this successful concept is now being extended to areas in Uganda and Tanzania close to species-rich forests and the coastal forests in the Shimba Hills in Kenya. The cultivation of medicinal plants and the manufacture of herbal remedies and insecticides now provide an income for about 5000 people. In each area, the project includes a broadly based educational programme on environmental issues. This raises local awareness of the importance of nature conservation and the sustainable use of the forest. The programme is designed to show those directly affected that intact eco­ systems provide many services that are a direct benefit to humans. Since 2011, Biovision has been involved in an additional project in the Kakamega Forest that promotes environmental monitoring using bio­logical indicators such as insect species that are sensitive to water pollution. Pollinating insects such as bees play a pivotal role here as their health has a direct in­ fluence on crop yields. The planned expansion of beekeeping and honey production is designed to open up further sources of income.

Health of the Environment | 21

The black-and-white colobus monkey is one of many endangered species in the Kakamega Rainforest.

Kilimanjaro basil is planted outside the Kakamega Forest and processed into a popular natural cure.

High-quality Cabesi honey sells well in Kenya and provides Pokot beekeepers with an important source of income.

Sustainable use of natural resources In the project area of West Pokot in the semi-arid areas of Western Kenya, Biovision has already helped to establish facilities for the production and marketing of honey. This has provided new sources of income for the mainly impoverished rural population. In the lowland area of the Kerio Valley, rain can be absent for several months. This traditionally excluded any form of profitable arable farming and families relied primarily on sheep, goats and cattle. However, recurring droughts, overgrazing of the sparse vegetation, timber extraction for fuel together with soil erosion have undermined the natural resources and caused regular food shortages.

Vital sources of additional income Faced with this precarious situation, it is essential to find new sources of income for small farmers and their families that do not harm the fragile ecosystem. With the Cabesi Project, Biovision is supporting environmentally-friendly beekeeping and the local production and sale of bee products such as honey, wax candles and soap.

New types of beehives and honey centrifuges are facilitating the production of pure, high-quality honey and significantly increasing yields. In addition, the new methods are safer for beekeepers and the risk of bush fires is reduced. Traditionally, honey was obtained by smoking out the bee colonies from the hollow tree trunks and this was often a highly destructive process. Honey production in Pokot was originally the preserve of men but the Cabesi Project has allowed women to participate in beekeeping for the first time. Women are earning an income and have improved their status in this tribal society.

Janet Maro Agronomist and President of the NGO “Sustainable Agriculture Tanzania”, Morogoro, Tanzania

“The Infonet internet platform and the Biovision magazine “The Organic Farmer” are important sources of information when I am giving advice to farmers. It contains excellent background articles and information that is ready to use”.

80% of the rural population of East Africa earns its livelihood primarily from farming.

However, the people have few opportunities for education and training. Biovision is plugging this gap with farming magazines, radio broadcasts, an Internet platform and practical courses.

Dissemination of Information | 23

Practical information for farmers

Knowledge key for fighting poverty As a result of the “Farmer Communication Programme”, over 5 million rural house­ holds in East Africa now have access to scientifically based, field-tested information on ecological farming. The Programme uses multimedia to disseminate information tailored to the needs of small farmers and widen access to the knowledge gained in our grassroot projects.

Facts and figures • TOF Radio reaches up to 4.5 million small farmers in Kenya and neighbouring countries in East Africa.

• 248 000 farmers read the TOF magazine every month.

• 30 000 users from 53 African countries and 194 countries worldwide visit the Infonet-Biovision website each month (www.infonet-biovision.org).

Examples of current projects FCP projects • BV IS-02: TOF Farmers’ Magazine • BV IS-02A: TOF radio • BV IS-02B: iTOF • BV IS-03: Infonet Biovision International projects • BV IS-05: Stop DDT • BV IS-10: Changing course in global agriculture Swiss projects • BS IS-10A: CLEVER – Interactive exhibition. Since 2011, more than 10 000 people have visited CLEVER. For more information see www.biovision.ch/en/projects/

80% of the rural population in Africa earns its livelihood primarily from agriculture.

The majority have no formal training and so rely on traditional knowledge passed down from previous generations. However, farmers now face a multitude of challenges such as climate change, soil leaching, plant pests, animal diseases and land shortages and so traditional methods are no longer sufficient in providing the families with enough food. And yet, those living in the rural areas of East Africa rarely have access to the information they need.

Farming magazine providing practical advice In 2005, this dearth of information prompted Biovision to launch “The Organic Farmer” (TOF) magazine. Grassroot projects supported by Biovision in Kenya and Ethiopia had already demonstrated that farmers could more than double their yields by adopting scientifically validated organic methods of farming. Increases in yields had generated surplus production of plant and animal foodstuffs allowing farmers to improve their diet, health and stan­ dard of living.

The TOF magazine makes this information and expertise available to a wider audience and reaches interested parties outside the project regions. The monthly magazine, which publishes practical advice in English is now distributed to almost 5000 farmers’ groups in Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda, Burundi and Ruanda and has a readership approaching 250 000. To enable those unable to read English to benefit from the guidance and tips, a Kiswahili version has been published since 2011 under the name “Mkulima Mbunifu” (roughly translates as the Clever Farmer) and we plan to publish a regular edition in Amharic, the national language of Ethiopia.

TOF Radio has wide appeal A primary aim of the Farmer Communication Programme (FCP) is to reach a wide audience in rural areas and demonstrate how to make the best use of resources, increase yields in return for a relatively low investment and at the same protect natural resources. For this purpose, FCP uses electronic media such as radio, mobile phones and the Internet. TOF Radio on its own reaches 4 million people. It broadcasts two programmes per week, one of which can be heard on KBC, Kenya’s largest broadcaster.

In addition, the editorial team operates a text messaging service answering 200 – 300 questions from small farmers every month. For example, they may be asked how to protect the maize crop from a specific pest threatening to decimate the harvest. More than 75% of all Kenyan households now have a mobile phone and so there has been a major increase in the use of this quick and flexible way of sending information. As a result of its intensive engagement with readers and listeners, the TOF editorial team can quickly identify the problems currently of concern to rural po­ pulations and select the topics to be covered in greater detail in radio broadcasts and magazine articles.

Search engines for farmers The basic data on organic farming, livestock farming, soil and water management, health, hygiene and the generation of incomes is derived from scientific research conducted by prestigious bodies such as icipe, the international insect research centre in Nairobi. Icipe, a long-term partner of Biovision, also coordinates the FCP and through its applied research combines theory and practice.

Since 2006, financial support from LED, the Liechtenstein Development Service,

Dissemination of Information | 25

The farmer magazine and Internet platform www.infonet-biovision.org offer concrete information of local relevance on ecological farming.

has allowed information to be made available on the platform “Infonet” (www.info­ net-biovision.org). For example, if you enter “plant” in the search engine, this brings up 140 primary entries on food and medi­ cinal plants, diseases, methods of cultivation and processing. It provides detailed information on some 700 of the main plant diseases and pests and how to control them with natural methods. The search engine is free.

In addition to contributions from research bodies in East Africa and Europe, the electronic reference tool also contains information from Kenya’s farmer groups. They supply local knowledge, test the guidance and contribute practical experience. The use of the Infonet is not restricted to rural households but is also accessed by project partners, NGOs, agricultural advisers and schools. The site is being called up more than 30 000 times per month and the trend is still upwards.

Local advice service In Kenya, the FCP now has 10 information centres staffed by specialist advisers. On request, the advisers will visit rural communities and encourage the creation of networks of local farmers’ groups in order to increase knowledge. The aim of this service is not just to disseminate specialist information, but also to improve the position of small farmers by encouraging networking and the mutual exchange of experience.

Purpose of Foundation The Biovision Foundation encourages the conservation of natural resources for current and future generations. It supports projects in Switzerland and developing nations in the Third World that promote the sustainable and socially responsible use of natural resources, help maintain plant and animal diversity and foster and support sustainable thinking and action.

Foundation Board Dr. Hans Rudolf Herren (Foundation President), Dr. Barbara Frei Haller (pharmacist and ethnobiologist), Mathis Zimmermann (lawyer), Dr. Ruedi Baumgartner (Prof. emeritus for Development Cooperation ETH/NADEL Zürich), Paula Daeppen-Dion (UN NGO representative), Founders: Dr. Hans Rudolf Herren, Andreas Schriber, Mathis Zimmermann, Juerg Weber

15 years of Biovision in figures

Biovision Ecological development guarantees a future for all Infectious diseases, animal epidemics, crop pests and overexploitation of natural resources are hindering development in Africa. Working closely with local partners and the local population, Biovision uses sustainable methods to tackle these problems.

Through our grass root projects, we have been improving living conditions in East Africa since 1998. Using a holistic approach, we tackle the roots of poverty. In harmony with the credo of our founder and president Hans Rudolf Herren, who worked in Africa as an insect researcher for many decades, Biovision works with and not against nature.

At its heart, a healthy ecosystem For us, the health of humans, animals, plants and the environment is a central element of our development work. In close cooperation with local partners, we provide rural populations in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda with the knowledge and practical skills that they need. The education projects are designed to enhance the lives of small farmers and using the knowledge gained they can deploy their resources more effectively. This guarantees food security, generates income and creates healthy lifestyles and prospects for the future.

Self-determination and solidarity Our initiatives have given hundreds of thousands of small farmers in East Africa an opportunity to improve their lives whilst safeguarding their environment. Our core principles include the active involvement of those directly affected, gender equality and income generation.

8 M CHF 7 M CHF 6 M CHF 5 M CHF 4 M CHF 3 M CHF 2 M CHF 1 M CHF 0 M CHF

98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12

Project investments Fundraising & Administration Healthy growth and a spending policy matching the Foundation’s purpose characterise Biovision

2%

Information as key to fighting poverty For rural populations in Africa, access to information is often a crucial element in the fight against poverty. As a result, our grassroot projects include a comprehensive information programme. In addition, Biovision lobbies international bodies on development issues.

This is essential because gains achieved in projects can only be maintained long term if the underlying framework is compatible. That’s why we support a pilot project, together with the Millennium Institute, analysing agriculture, food security and rural poverty with local stakeholders in Senegal, Kenya and Ethiopia systemically in order to find ways towards a sustainable development. In addition, we are active in the Global North, running information projects that encourage development that is sustainable and mutually supportive.

7% 38%

28% 7%

18%

Basic projects Africa (4H) Information dissemination Africa Infonet Information dissemination Switzerland Basic projects Switzerland Advocacy Distribution of project investments from 1998 to 2012.

Many Thanks We should like to thank members, donors and institutions for their invaluable support during the last 15 years. It has allowed us to tackle effectively our primary aim of improving the life of rural populations in Africa whilst protecting their environment.

Senegal

Ethiopia

Uganda

Tanzania

Imprint Š Biovision Foundation, Zurich June 2013 Editorial Ueli Wuermli Concept and text Beat Jordi, Andreas Schriber, David Fritz, Peter Luethi, Ueli Wuermli Translation Sue Coles Photo credits Peter Luethi, photoart, Sintayehu Tewaba Verena Albertin, Flurina Wartmann Design Binkert Partner, Zurich Paper Quality FSC Amber Graphic Offset matt, woodfree

Kenya

Regula von Bueren Project Manager Environment Mercator Foundation

“One of the major challenges facing society is how to feed a growing global population in a way that does not harm the environment and is also healthy and just. Biovision is rising to this challenge with considerable energy, professionalism and experience. Our Foundation values highly its cooperation with a well-connected player that has a national and international reputation”.

Simone Niggli Biovision Ambassador, biologist, 20 times world orienteering champion, with Cabesi team member Mercy Kiyapyap

“My parents taught me how to read maps at an early age and using this knowledge, I can still find my way around in unfamiliar territory. Farmers in Africa also need knowledge to cope with nature’s daily challenges. I am pleased to support the Biovision education projects”.

Peter Ritter CEO LED

“The Liechtenstein Development Service (LED) supports the development of the Infonet Internet platform and the Organic Farmer Radio since 2005 as we firmly believe that access to information is crucial to the success of small farmers in East Africa. Many small farmers in East Africa are familiar with the extensive communication network established by Biovision. They value and use it”.

Martin Dahinden Director of SDC

“The field in which the Biovision Foundation operates is of increasing importance for SDC (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation). We have the common goal of a sustainable agriculture that is considerate in its use of genetic and other resources and improves food security. Initiatives to provide education and advice on seeds, technology, storage, processing and marketing can help rural populations in the Third World earn an adequate living. In Biovision, we have an ideal partner”.

Stiftung für ökologische Entwicklung Fondation pour un développement écologique Foundation for ecological development

Schaffhauserstrasse 18, 8006 Zurich/Switzerland, Phone +41 44 341 97 18.

Donations from outside Switzerland are best made on-line at: www.biovision.ch/en.