Information for AFRISCO's clients

Group applications

Ecocert-Afrisco is happy to try to assist groups of small-scale farmers and training organisations to set up internal control mechanisms, and where necessary, to find training.  These mechanisms are required when groups of small-scale farmers (with farms or plots less than 25 ha. in extent) wish to be certified as a group in order to reduce individual costs.  In the case of emerging farmers, one person can keep all the records for the group.  In all cases a clear internal inspection process must be developed, so that the group is able to vouch for the integrity of the organic standards on the farm of each member of the group.  Internal inspectors can inspect all the farms, thus reducing overhead costs of certification to each participating farmer. 

This method has been well tested in many other regions, and is widely used in many developing countries.  Ecocert-Afrisco is already involved in certifying such groups, and hopes that this will become a major activity.  Members of the group will require

Ecocert-Afrisco will not itself be involved in providing this training (which would conflict with our independence as a certifier) but will work with training organisations to ensure that training curricula are developed which will teach smallholders to meet certification requirements.

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Or go to document on Building Internal Control Systems for small-scale farmers' groups