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How Can Multifunctional Agriculture Support a Transition to a Green Economy in Africa? Lessons from the COMACO Model in Zambia

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  • Orleans Mfune

    (Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, The University of Zambia, P. O. Box 32379, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
    United Nations University-Institute for Natural Resources in Africa (UNU-INRA) Green Economy Project, International House, University of Ghana, Legon Campus, Accra, Ghana)

  • Moses Ngongo Chisola

    (Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, The University of Zambia, P. O. Box 32379, Lusaka 10101, Zambia)

  • Ignitius Ziba

    (Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, The University of Zambia, P. O. Box 32379, Lusaka 10101, Zambia)

Abstract

This paper examines the link between the green economy and multifunctional agriculture. In particular, the paper uses the case of the Community Markets for Conservation (COMACO) initiative, an agro-based enterprise promoting a multifunctional agriculture model in Eastern Zambia, to examine how the potential of smallholder farmers can be harnessed to support a transition towards the green economy. The empirical data on which the paper is based were collected through questionnaire surveys and in-depth interviews conducted with farmers and other actors in the agricultural sector. The results of the study show that a number of elements underpinning the COMACO model including sustainable land management practices, conservation outreach, community markets, value addition, and conservation dividends have great potential to deliver benefits related to the green economy. However, to truly foster a transition towards a green economy, a number of constraints need to be overcome. These include lack of a supportive policy and institutional framework, technological backwardness, and lack of consumer awareness of environmental information instruments such as eco-labelling.

Suggested Citation

  • Orleans Mfune & Moses Ngongo Chisola & Ignitius Ziba, 2016. "How Can Multifunctional Agriculture Support a Transition to a Green Economy in Africa? Lessons from the COMACO Model in Zambia," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 6(3), pages 1-17, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:6:y:2016:i:3:p:48-:d:78522
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    2. Yari Vecchio & Abdul-Latif Iddrisu & Felice Adinolfi & Marcello De Rosa, 2020. "Geographical Indication to Build up Resilient Rural Economies: A Case Study from Ghana," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-14, March.

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