The African Organic Farming Foundation (AOFF), based in South Africa, was founded in 2001 around the concept of sustainable farm productivity.  Currently, fluctuations in the agricultural market, combined with a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS in southern Africa, make it difficult for farmers to earn a stable income.

The organization strives to educate rural farmers by implementing programs on good quality farming techniques, while using expert knowledge on external market forces provided by the AOFF.  More importantly, these techniques incorporate knowledge about how to sustain their natural resources so they are not over utilized.  Since its inception, the AOFF has worked in South Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. To reach the goals of farming productivity maximization, the AOFF implements various programs including Project Initiation, the Knowledge Program, the Marketing and Agro-Enterprise Development (MAED) Project, and Communications and Public Outreach.

The Project Initiation includes a market research study in order to identify areas in the agricultural market where there are high demand products.   The AOFF provides extensive research to enable the farmers to grow products which will acquire the most income.  This type of research is important because farmers normally do not have access to such technology. According to the United Nations International Foundation for Agricultural Development, farmers “lack access to the land, water, financial resources and agricultural technologies and services they need to farm productively.  They also lack access to markets and opportunities for enterprise that could help them increase their income. Above all, they lack the organizational power and influence required to advocate for their own needs and take advantage of emerging opportunities” [2].

A second activity of the AOFF programs is based on providing capacity-building and business skills to local farmers.  Through a variety of training programs, the AOFF provides workshops to help farmers get access to the appropriate resources. According to an article in The Economist, “African markets are so undeveloped, that the opportunity there is still quite small” [3]. This step is especially significant for the female population. Due to the scourge of HIV/AIDS, women are becoming increasingly burdened with the responsibility of being the sole financial providers for the family.

The third activity of the AOFF is their Marketing and Agro-enterprise Development project. This project works to facilitate the relationships between importers in developed countries with growers in southern Africa in order to prevent farmers from becoming marginalized from international trade [4]. While preventing market marginalization, the project also helps to deter the impact that HIV/AIDS has in the rural areas. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, sub-Saharan Africa is home to about 70 percent of Africa’s HIV/AIDS cases. Of the 25 most effected countries, more than two thirds of the populations live in rural areas [5]. Including these affected regions in the international economic system will allow for increased financial growth and production efficiency. The Communications and Public Outreach Project, which produces a quarterly newsletter, communicates the most up-to-date information regarding pertinent farming markets and local and international supply and demand. This is an important asset for farmers because the data is crucial towards the success of their production.  Additionally, the program spreads awareness of the surrounding areas that are participating in the AOFF’s projects, which increases communication and fosters business relationships with rural farmers. 

The International Institute for Justice and Development (IIJD) encourages the AOFF to continue its influential work in southern Africa. Sustainable agricultural production in rural areas is important for encouraging prosperous development in the face of disease, poverty, and food insecurity. Knowledge of effective rural farming techniques is an essential step towards placing farmers on the economic ladder of development. The work of the AOFF strongly compliments the values of the IIJD through providing resources to enable African farmers to maximize and efficiently use their natural resources, which will provide long-lasting development solutions for rural African citizens.