FAQs

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Q: What are Organic Agriculture Products?

A: Organic farming produces organic agriculture products.
Organic farming is a method of crop production that involves a lot more than eliminating pesticides, fertilizers, antibiotics and growth hormones (except those that are allowed by the organic certification standards of certification agencies).
Organic farming systems rely on practices such as culture and biological pest management and virtually prohibit synthetic chemicals in crop production.

Organic agriculture is a holistic production management system which promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity. It emphasizes the use of management practices in preference to the use of off-farm inputs, taking into account that regional conditions require locally adapted systems. This is accomplished by using, where possible, agronomic, biological, and mechanical methods, as opposed to using synthetic materials, to fulfill any specific function within the system.
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Q: What are certified organic products?

A: Certified organic products are those which have been produced, stored, processed, handled and marketed in accordance with precise technical specifications (standards) and certified as "organic" by a certification body. Once a certification body has verified conformity with organic standards, the product can be labeled as such. This label will differ depending on the certification body, but can be taken as an assurance that the essential elements constituting an "organic" product have been met from the farm to the market. It is important to note that an organic label applies to the production process, ensuring that the product has been produced and processed in an ecologically sound manner. The organic label is therefore a production process claim as opposed to a product quality claim.

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Q: Why is organic food more expensive than conventional food?

A: Certified organic products are generally more expensive than their conventional counterparts (for which prices have been declining) for a number of reasons:
· Production costs for organic foods are typically higher because of greater labor inputs per unit of output and because greater diversity of enterprises means economies of scale cannot be achieved
· Post-harvest handling of relatively small quantities of organic foods results in higher costs because of the mandatory segregation of organic and conventional produce, especially for processing and transportation
· Marketing and the distribution chain for organic products is relatively inefficient and costs are higher because of relatively small volumes

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Q: How do the Outspan Enterprises Ltd projects benefit the community?

A: Outspan has for long played a great role in improving livelihoods of its smallholder farmers mostly based in the rebel affected Northern part of Uganda by offering a premium price for organic agricultural products and providing seed and extension services to all its members. The recent government/ rebel peace talks have further brightened the future of displaced farmers in this region and has seen a majority move back to their home villages and take up farming as a source of income. Outspan is commited to further play a role in facilitating the improvement of livelihoods in this region by providing market and paying a premium for the agricultural products of this region and in other ways possible.

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Q: What Standards are taken by Outspan to ensure good quality organic products?

A: The unique qualities and flavours of our products deliver an especially satisfying experience to our customers and their taste buds. All Our products are grown in the food basket of East and Central Africa (Uganda) and are non GMO. Our products further deliver tradition and modernity in one. The preparation process is traditional, yet it meets the requirements of a healthy and modern diet.

The technological standards of processing, packaging and storing fulfill the requirements of the 21st century, therefore our products preserve their natural goodness through every stage of processing.  This has enabled Outspan continue to market its products in Europe and the Middle East. Our main concern is customer satisfaction, and our products are subjected to the highest levels of quality control as recommended by our certifiers.

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