PICOTEAM is a network-organisation with nodes in Africa, Latin America and Europe
  that supports efforts to bring about change and innovations for sustainable development.

PICOTEAM Ltd. PICO Southern Africa PICO Uganda PICO Tanzania PICO Latin America
PICO Academy for Practitioners PICO Knowledge Networking

Experiences in AFRICA

Developing and establishing an Africa-wide network on conservation farming
PICOTEAM members facilitated the process that led to the development and establishment of the African Conservation Tillage Network (ACT) which was formed in 1998 when the Zimbabwe farmers Union (ZFU), the German development co-operation (GTZ), the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) of South Africa and a number of other organisations jointly organised an international workshop under the theme “Conservation tillage for sustainable agriculture”.
Driven by the general desire among players and stakeholders to better and more share information and experiences on conservation agriculture and related aspects, in the course of the workshop stakeholders decided on establishing a regional network as a mechanism to stimulate and facilitate crosscutting and mutually exchange of knowledge and information from experiences with Conservation Agriculture. Under Project support from GTZ (4/2000 to 12/2003 and extended to 12/2005), the Network formally established a full-time secretariat in 2000 and a steering committee.
PICOTEAM member Edward Chuma became the founding Chairman of the steering committee and under his leadership, the Network evolved into a “neutral platform”, stimulating, facilitating and challenging for mutual sharing of information and knowledge on experiences/lessons on applications (promotion/adoption) of Conservation Aagricultura and expanding from its initial focus on Southern half of Africa to covering the rest of the continent.
ACT is now registered as a pan-African not-for-profit membership association and membership is voluntary bringing together stakeholders and players who are:
  • dedicated to improving agricultural productivity through sustainable management of natural resources in Africa’s farming systems;
  • committed to the principles of mutual collaboration, partnerships and sharing of information/knowledge on sustainable natural resource management;
  • drawing on synergies and complementarities (without necessarily becoming one and allowing each one pursue aspects for which they have comparative advantage).
ACT has been established adhering to the African Union’s “Code of Ethics and Conduct for African Civil Society Organisations”. Principles of transparency, accountability and respect for the rule of law shall reflect the very character of ACT as an organisation.
ZFU, GTZ, FAO and ARC


1998 - to date