Status of organic agriculture in Nepal

Sujata Tamang, Madhav Dhital and Umesh Acharya

Organic agriculture was first appeared as one of the priority sectors in Nepalese agriculture since the 10th Five Years Plan (2059/060-2063/064). But nowadays various institutions, individuals and farmers are emergently engaging in this field. There are various local organic practices; some practiced from the ages and some innovating new practices by farmers themselves. At present, some organic products such as coffee, tea, honey, large cardamom, ginger etc are exported to international market. Various institute and individuals think that organic movement in Nepal is quite slow in motion due to lack of clear vision of the government and distorted information flow from the different developmental projects.

Reviewing the government past policy and programs, agriculture production particularly organic productions are never seen in the perspective of the food. The national agriculture policy 2061 clearly stated that the promotion of organic agriculture is only for export. The policy and program guided it from the promotion of business and emphasized has been given for earning more money but never seen from the own food and health. Therefore the organic farming is limited in the only export oriented commodities such as apiculture, coffee, tea, large cardamom, ginger etc and in a certain group of farmers.

Among the individuals and institutions workings in organic agriculture and even in the farmers who are involving in the organic practices (few returning back to organic from the chemical agriculture) do not have its clear definitions. Organizations, individuals and farmers themselves seem to be not clear entirely on what they are doing on this sector. So the exact measurement to measure the quality and standard of the organic products is also not clear. They cannot give proper and prompt answer why it is important and how much is organic and what are the technologies suitable in Nepalese condition. Various interactions and discussions shows that many farmers engaged in organic agriculture are not confident because some pests and diseases are very hard to control without chemical pesticides. Due to lack of standard guidelines from the government, there are not proper definitions and methods to make the farming practices organic. Local farmers knowingly or unknowingly practicing organic agriculture and have invented various organic techniques but we have not acknowledged them for their contribution.

Nepalese organic products reach the standard for the Nepalese market but competing with the international market is too hard. Because of the complicated certification process, marketing of organic product within our own country is more effective than competing with the international market. Due to the lack of accredited laboratory facility, several cases of return of the certified organic products (honey) had been seen in the recent past.

Great possibility of organic farming exists because many places are still in organic in nature and yet to be not reached the modern technologies and chemical fertilizers. For example- Jumla is already announced organic district by the government, as chemical fertilizer and pesticides are yet to be not reached. This is the traditional practices of the farming which is very close to the organic practices. Such declaration of the organic area are only romanticized which cannot reach the standard of organic certification process.

Many of the farmers in Nepal face problems that the organic products are not perfect in shape, size and color in comparison with products produced by the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. So they are in fear about the consumer preference as they (consumer) prefer by evaluation with their eyes and organic products are hard to compete in the market. They do not concern about the way of production and nutrient content of the product. They think that organic products are expensive and hard to be affording it. At village level the local seeds are completely replaced by the hybrid and imported varieties especially in cereals and vegetables.

It is believed that Nepalese farmers are more committed for the organic farming compared to other south Asian countries. But now a day’s particularly youth are distracting from the agriculture field. They think once they have some academic degree, it’s not good to work in the agriculture field and playing with mud, plough, FYM etc. is not feasible option and move out from the village in search of employment. Only few farmers are convinced that organic agriculture is possible and the organic pesticides and fertilizers can also contribute in better production as compared to the chemical inputs.

Research organizations like NARC, NARDF give least priority on organic farming. There are limited and scattered researches on organic farming, which are not properly documented and thus repeated on the limited issues.

During the fiscal year 2066/067, government provides only 24 corores of subsidies in organic manures and certification process of organic products. Under this limited budget, farmers are confused which part of organic agriculture is to expand by the government sector.

[Source:http://www.forestaction.org/app/webroot/… ]