27th Ambassadorship Month  1, Report 1

Free Report: September

Title: Concept of Organic Farming

Organic farming systems do not use toxic agrochemical inputs (pesticides, fungicides,

herbicides and fertilizers). Instead, they are based on development of biological diversity

and the maintenance and replenishment of soil productivity. Organic farming describes two

major aspects of alternative agriculture:

*Substitution of manures and other organic matter for inorganic fertilizers.

*Biological pest and disease control instead of chemical control.

Organic farming is one of several ways to sustainable agriculture and many of the

techniques used (intercropping, crop rotation, ploughing, mulching, integration of crops and

livestock etc.) are practiced under various agricultural systems. What makes organic farming unique is that almost all synthetic inputs are prohibited and soil health improving agronomic practices are mandated.

Scope of Organic Agriculture

1. Geographical advantage

➢ Diversified ecological and climatic variation. which support for the cultivation of different crops in different

season.

➢ Still most of the farmers in the high hills and majority of them in the mid hills are not using inorganic chemicals

in their farm.

➢Farmers can produce different commercial organic products targeted to international as well as national.

2. Availability of cheap labor

➢ There are a large number of small and marginalized farmers’ involved in agriculture in Nepal.

➢ The labor is cheaper as compare to other developed countries.

➢ Due to use of cheap labor, the cost of final product will be cheaper and that product can easily compete in the market.

3. Exporting opportunity

➢ Nepal, as a member ofWTO, can have good opportunities in the global markets.

➢ The production outputs from traditional farming alone could not fully satisfy.

➢ Due to diversified agroecology in the country, a number of organic fruits, vegetables and food crops can be

grown and export to India, China, Japan, Bangladesh and other American and European countries.

4. Priority to organic products

➢ Consumers as well as farmers are becoming more and more aware of organic products from environment and

health point of view.

➢ Organic products are safe to the health and environment.

➢ In view of these the attention of scientists, planners, politicians, industrialists etc have been attracted towards

organic farming for which there are consumers who are ready to pay higher price for organic products.

5. Good experience of organic farming

➢ Farmer can use their indigenous knowledge and experiences easily in organic farming.

➢ The farmers need not depend on the external inputs to produce organic commodities in the

future.

6. Development of infrastructures

➢ Development of high way, agricultural roads for transportation.

➢ Telephone for communication, television and radios for advertisement and good marketing

facilities etc.

➢ Increases the scope of organic production of vegetables, coffee, tea, zinger, and field crops

in Nepal.

7. Employment opportunity

➢ Large number of peoples will be involved in different activities like seed production,

processing, marketing etc.

8. Development of organic enterprises /associations

➢Now the number of private enterprises and associations are actively involved in

development of organic farming in our country.

➢ Mainly these are concentrated in accessible areas both for production and distribution of

organic products.

Importance of Organic Farming

1. Environmentally safe

➢ In organic agriculture, farmers largely avoid the use of synthetic chemicals and rely on

natural pest controls, manuring and cultural practices, which help to reduce different forms of

environmental pollutions.

➢ Reductions in the use of these toxic synthetic chemicals also help to improved human and

livestock health and other beneficial organisms.

➢ This leads us to live in harmony with nature, which is the key to sound development and a

sustainable environment.

2. More sustainable

➢ Farmers are less dependent on external inputs (agro-chemicals).

➢ Locally available resources which are economically profitable and ecologically viable.

➢ Sustainable management of natural resources; soil water and bio- diversity.

3. Food security

➢Organic agriculture can contribute to local food security in several ways.

➢ Consumers’ demand for organically produced food sometimes provide impressive premiums and new export opportunities to farmers.

4. Source of employments

➢ Organic agriculture requires significantly greater labor input than conventional farming's.

5. Sources of nutrition

➢ Organic food contains more vitamins, nutrients and cancer-fighting antioxidants than nonorganic

foods.

➢ Organic foods have far less residues of pesticides, growth promoters, antibiotics and other

chemicals.

➢ It tastes better than the inorganic products.

6. Enhances biodiversities conservation

➢ Many indigenous food crops which are under utilized and have a great value can be

reintroduced through crop diversification.

➢ It contributes to whole farm health, provides conservation of important genotypes, and

creates habitats for beneficial species.

7. Profitable

➢ Reduce production costs by avoiding expensive cost of agrochemicals.

➢ Organic crop yields are lower the overall economic yields but benefit from market premiums

(fair prices) and sometimes lowered input costs.