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His name is Alemu Asalefew - a 65-year-old man living in the heart of Addis Ababa. He has a small space in his backyard and uses it to grow different vegetables types including tomato, lettuce, pepper, kale, Swiss chard, beetroot, cabbage etc. “Seeing the vegetables grow from day to-day makes me feel happy beyond the food production” says Mr Alemu when asked about how important gardening is for him. One morning, we went to visit him and we found him in his backyard assessing his vegetables and he said “this is where you will find me if I am not in the house”. His main means of keeping his garden fertile is by preparing compost from compostable household waste, and his backyard looks so fertile. He showed us his composting pit, and he also said that he visited a vermicomposting and he is keen to try them in his garden with conventional composting side by side. His vegetables look so clean with no sign of pest and disease attack. When asked if pest and disease are challenges fo...

Agriculture is one of humankind's most basic activities which strives to fulfil people’s need to nourish themselves daily with healthy and nutritious food. As production systems, organic agriculture acknowledges the interconnectedness of human health, the natural world, and agricultural which have to operate with a healthy interaction amongst themselves. Hence, it relies on healthy ecological processes, biodiversity and cycle of interactions. The production system depends on the link between tradition, innovation and science. Below are few reasons to go for the production and consumption of organic: Organically grown food is healthy and is free from residues of toxic chemicals. Studies also showed that organic food has high content antioxidants.   Promotes the use of natural soil fertility enhancement and plant protection techniques are in harmony with nature Production system is knowledge intensive which promotes the use of local and indigenous knowledge Don’t pollu...