Organic Farming for food security & economic growth in Nepal

Agriculture has been man's primary source of nourishment for thousands of years. Agriculture, which employs 65.62 percent of Nepal's population, is the country's primary economic sector (23.3 million). Agriculture accounts for 38.81 percent of the total GDP. Food production is insufficient to fulfill the growing population's food needs, which are rising at a rate of 2.25 percent per year, indicating significant food insecurity (Acharya et al., 2020). As a result, agriculture has risen to the top of the priority list, with a pressing need to assess its potential. Simultaneously, subsistence farming must be turned to commercial agriculture to improve the poor's economic status.

Similarly, according to the Organic Agriculture Society, "a holistic production management system that eliminates the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and genetically modified organisms reduces pollution of the air, soil, and water, and improves the health and productivity of interdependent communities of plants, animals, and people." The Nepalese government is aware of the hazards of agricultural chemicals, and integrated pest control is being encouraged in some areas to reduce pesticide use (Parajuli et al., 2020). The producer must (a) choose and implement practices "that maintain or improve the physical, chemical, and biological condition of soil and minimize soil erosion," (b) "manage crop nutrients and soil fertility through crop rotation, cover crops, and the application of plant and animal materials," and (c) "manage plant and animal materials," according to the National Organic Program (NOP) regulation 205.203. Any product added to the soil, such as composts or manures, must follow NOP requirements (Thompson, 2021).

Global and Nepalese scenario of Organic agriculture:

According to the latest survey by the Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL and IFOAM (2017), 69.8 million hectares of organic agricultural land (including in-conversion areas) were recorded in 181 world countries. The table shows the data as follows: 

Table 1: region share of OA land, 2017

Table 2: Ten countries with the largest areas of organic agricultural  land,2017 (FiBL, 2019) 

Organic Farming in Nepal

Nepal possesses 0.23 percent of all organic agricultural land in the globe. Nepal has 9361 ha of organic land, with 804 ha dedicated to organic coffee cultivation, out of more than 69 million ha of organic land. Some Nepalese products, such as tea and coffee, are already organically certified and profitable to export. Over 10 years, Nepal's organic agriculture land increased by 1167 hectares, although the trend remained unchanged. Organic agriculture was first prioritized in the Government of Nepal's 10th Five-Year Plan. It has now been incorporated into the national agricultural strategy. The Nepalese government has previously designated Jumla as an organic district. During the fiscal year 2066/67, the Nepal government only allocates 24 million to organic manure and the certification of organic products (Parajuli et al., 2020). 

Organic farming has a long and illustrious history that dates back to the dawn of agriculture. Early agriculture in diverse civilizations was organic in nature because it was practiced in the cradle of nature since its inception. Farmers with few resources have been practicing such approaches in a traditional fashion similar to organic farming for over a century, and farmers' organic farming knowledge and abilities would be a useful factor in expanding organic farming in Nepal. The promotion of organic agriculture is only for export, according to the National Agriculture Policy 2061. Organic farming is restricted to a small number of farmers and only export-oriented commodities such as apiculture, coffee, tea, big cardamom, ginger, and other spices. 

Advantages of Organic Farming for Nepal

Traditional agricultural policy has primarily focused on achieving short-term productivity goals, often neglecting the importance of local natural and human resources. Organic agriculture aligns farming practices with the market's needs by prioritizing environmental protection, conserving nonrenewable resources, and enhancing food quality and health. A wide range of institutions, individuals, and farms support organic farming. Nepal exports organic products to various countries, enhancing soil and consumer health while boosting agricultural output. Organic farming is particularly advantageous in countries like Nepal, where the integrated crop-livestock system is prevalent. It has proven to be a viable option for improving Nepal's living standard. Given the damage caused by indiscriminate pesticide use in conventional agriculture, organic farming is a practical solution for ensuring food security and promoting agricultural sustainability.

References

• Acharya, A., Ghimire, P., & Wagle, A. (2020). An overview of organic farming in Nepal. Sustainability in Food and Agriculture, 1(2), 109–112. https://doi.org/10.26480/sfna.02.2020.109.112
• Parajuli, S., Shrestha, J., & Ghimire, S. (2020). Organic farming in Nepal: A viable option for food security and agricultural sustainability. Archives of Agriculture and Environmental Science, 5(2), 223–230. https://doi.org/10.26832/24566632.2020.0502021
• Thompson, A. A. (2021). NebGuide. June, 1–7.
• Goulding, K., Jarvis, S., & Whitmore, A. (2008). Optimizing nutrient management for farm systems. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 363(1491), 667–680. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2007.2177
• Kafle, K., Shriwastav, C. P., & Marasini, M. (2019). Influence of integrated nutrient management practices on soil properties and yield of potato (Solanum tuberosum L) in an Inceptisol of Khajura, Banke. International Journal of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology, 7(3), 365–369. https://doi.org/10.3126/ijasbt.v7i3.25134
• Köpke, U. (1995). Nutrient management in organic farming systems: The case of nitrogen. Biological Agriculture and Horticulture, 11(1–4), 15–29. https://doi.org/10.1080/01448765.1995.9754690
• Mikkelsen, R. L. (2000). Nutrient management for organic farming: A case study. Journal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education, 29(1), 88–92. https://doi.org/10.2134/jnrlse.2000.0088
• Shepherd, M. A., & Rayns, F. (2006). Funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). January. https://doi.org/10.13140/2.1.3331.9684