Permaculture - Our answer to the challenges of smallholder producers in Africa
Organic is a good start – but often not sufficient to address the complex challenges facing small-scale farming in Africa – such as the consequences of conventional agriculture, the effects of climate change, or the lack of access to fair international markets for so-called cash crops (premium products).
Circular Permaculture Trade is committed to strengthening small-scale agriculture with regenerative, place-based, and solution-oriented approaches – in harmony with nature and the principles of permaculture.
Permaculture means learning from nature: understanding ecological relationships and using them specifically for cultivation. Its focus is on diverse ecosystems in which plants and animals support each other – thus improving yields, protecting soils, and reducing the impact on the climate. In mixed cropping, for example, plants effectively share root space, and pests are less likely to spread.
Hedges serve as windbreaks and provide habitat for numerous beneficial insects. A vibrant, healthy soil rich in microorganisms is particularly important to us. This requires humus buildup, permanent vegetation, and vibrant roots – even in dry periods.
Permaculture offers practical solutions, especially for smallholder farmers in Africa, who often suffer from droughts, soil erosion, and uncertain markets: for food security, resilient farming systems, and a stable income.
Permaculture complements organic farming with crucial aspects:
- Climate protection through diversity and soil development
- Cultivation methods in harmony with natural cycles
- Promoting biodiversity
- Water-saving strategies
- Protection against erosion
- Social responsibility & fair cooperation
The four pillars of permaculture
biodiversity
- Mixed cultures with ecological function
- Animal husbandry in the natural cycle
- Meadows, forests and hedges
- Promotion of beneficial organisms
- Use of open-pollinated organic seeds and the preservation of indigenous plants that strengthen the ecological system – e.g., through shade, drought resistance, water storage, or humus formation
- Ground cover with mulch or wild herbs
Circular economy
Permaculture & Agrofrost farming
Closed material cycles without harmful foreign substances
Use of renewable energy where possible
Storage and use of rainwater or own wate
Resource conservation
- Water retention basins and efficient irrigation
- Mulching, ridge cultivation, soil shading
- Avoiding soil compaction
- Soil care through green manure
- Composting and humus formation
- Cultivation in terraces or according to keyline principles
Social responsibility
- Education and training in permaculture: Practical training courses currently taking place in Uganda and Togo.
- Development of processing and storage infrastructure: Through targeted reinvestments, we support the development of regional processing units to enable more added value directly on site.
- Knowledge exchange with the community & promotion of educational structures: We are committed to establishing the Tropical Permaculture Education Institute of Africa (TPEIA), which makes knowledge accessible and strengthens regional competence.
- Equality and diversity
- Fair pay and solidarity-based pricing models
Regenerating degraded soils with premium products
Together with our partner in Uganda, Broadfield Enterprises Uganda (BEU) , we are working to make permaculture accessible to smallholder farmers, share knowledge, create new perspectives – and make high-quality cash crops such as coffee, vanilla, dried fruits and cashew nuts available to connoisseurs worldwide, thereby regenerating soils.
– Bill Mollison
“Though the problems of the world are increasingly complex, the solutions remain embarrassingly simple.”