FAO Voluntary Guidelines for Sustainable Soil Management in organic sugarcane family farming compliance: the Manduvirá Cooperative case study

Implementing the FAO Voluntary Guidelines for Sustainable Soil Management (VGSSM) could bring positive benefits to soil health, agricultural productivity and mitigate climate change.

The survey was conducted in the Juan de Mena district (Cordillera – Paraguay) to producers belonging to the Manduvirá Cooperative dedicated to organic sugarcane production.

The assessment was carried out by applying the Technical Manual of the Protocol for the Assessment of Sustainable Soil Management (MSS/FAO).  Therefore, using participatory diagnostic tools and producer surveys to identify sustainable soil management practices (SSMP). A network of plots with homogeneous units was also established to monitor indicators related to soil and carbon conservation.

The results of the initial scan of sustainable soil management showed values below 2 points, indicating compliance with the DVGSS in the units evaluated. The practices observed reflect adequate soil management, characterized by the absence of visible degradation, rational use of inputs, conservation of vegetation cover, and low mechanical intervention.

The study shows that organized family farming, under cooperative schemes and organic production, contributes effectively to sustainable soil management. This constitutes a relevant experience for the validation of the MSS/FAO protocol and the promotion of resilient production systems.