INTRODUCTION:

Organic Farming is a type of sustainable land use that works entirely without synthetic fertilizer and chemical pesticides and systematically enhances the agro ecological system. Via standardization and quality seals, certified organic farming can be clearly distinguished from other sustainable types of farming.

Organic farming is related to the concepts of Sustainable Agriculture, especially with regard to the reduction of external inputs, as an attempt to achieve more environmental justice.

Historically, it did not originate from the universities but was developed by farmers and organizations supporting this type of agriculture in the industrialized countries as an explicit counter-movement to input-intensive, high-tech agriculture.

Organic farming relies on natural cycles. At the centre of this agricultural system is the maintenance and enhancement of soil fertility and the general rejection of synthetic fertilizer and pesticides.

The Codex Alimentarius of the FAO and the WHO describes organic farming on the basis of an environmental management system achieving sustainable productivity by promoting the ecosystem. Pest and weed control is maintained via various individual methods and through the mutual interdependence of the habitats of soil organisms and nutrients, plants, animals and human beings.

Whereas, FOAM defines the overarching goal of organic farming as: "Organic agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs with adverse effects. Organic agriculture combines tradition, innovation and science to benefit the shared environment and promote fair relationship and a good quality of life for all involved."

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

OBJECTIVES:

·         To know about the organic farming practices being used in the western mid hill areas of Nepal.

·         To know about the present farming situations of this area.

·         To know the condition of fertilizers and pesticides application in the farmers field.

·         To know whether they are using local resources available in their farm or not.

·         To aware the farmer about the harmful effects of excessive use of fertilizers as well as pesticides.

 

METHODOLOGY:

            Firstly I went to Mr. Murari Pokharel's house to get some information about organic practices according to my case study.  After meeting him, I started my work by asking semi-structured questionnaire which was prepared by our respected Asst. Prof. Mr. B. B. Adhikari and a single farmer was assigned to each individual student for a personal interview. A mini-kit of rice seed (Sukhha -2 variety) was provided to the farmer suiting their field condition as a symbol for their support in conducting this survey.

OBSERVATION

A)       Household information:

 Name of respondent: Murari Pokharel                                      Ward no: 8

 Address: Sundarbazaar,8                                                           Village: Paudi

 VDC: Sundarbazaar

Information’s about her family members are mentioned as below:

S.N	Name of family member	Relationship with respondent	Age(yrs)	Education	Main occupation
1.	Murari Pokharel	self	50	8 class	Farming and shop
2.	Sova Pokharel	Wife	37	5 class	Farming
3.	Sagar Pokharel	Son	17	+2	Student
4.	Samita Pokharel	Daughter	15	9 class	Student

B)      Land holding:

Land types	Name of parcel	Area(Ropani)		Ownership	Cropping pattern
a)Irrigated lowland
i)Parcel 1	Plot-1		...ropani	Own	-paddy-maize-
ii)Parcel 2	Plot-2		.. ropani	Own	-paddy-maize-
b)Rainfed lowland
iii)Parcel 3	Plot-3		... ropani	Own	Maize-paddy-mustard

C)                Other information:

He knows about organic farming which is been practicing in his farm.

a)Rice cultivation practices:

i) Use of organic manures:

                FYM is used in rice field during transplanting time at the rate of 20-25 doko per ropani. There is no any use of green manures in his farm. He has used urine and dung in rice fields. He has used bio-pesticides as asuro, pati etc to control insects in his rice field.  He has some problems like unavailability of organic manure and lack of manpower.

ii) Use of organic pesticides:

               He uses urine of cow and buffalo to control the insects in his rice farm. He has no idea about the use of neem in rice field to control the insects.

iii) Use of bio-fertilizers:

             He knows about bio-fertilizer, but there is no any use of bio-fertilizers in his rice field.

iv) Use of agrochemicals:

              He uses DAP 5-6 kg per ropani before transplanting and uses urea at the time of weeding. He has not used pesticides in his farm.

v) Use of traditional varieties:

            He do not have indigenous varieties of rice in his farm. But he had cultivated madhese, dalle, jhinuwa,marsi,anadhi etc. But the yield of traditional varieties is low as compare to the traditional varieties so he uses commercial varieties rather than the traditional varieties.

b) Maize cultivation practices:

i) Use of organic manures:

            Similarly, there is use of FYM in his maize field at the rate of doko 5-10 per  ropani. There is no any use of green manure.

ii) Use of bio-fertilizer:

           There is no any uses of bio-fertilizers.

iii) Use of organic pesticides:

          He uses urine of cow and buffalo to control the insects but no idea about the use of Neem to control the insects in maize field.

iv)Use of agrochemicals:

         DAP and urea is used 50 kg in 7 ropani before planting. He has not use pesticides in his farm.

v) Use of traditional varieties:

        Purano makia is being used as indigenous varieties in his farm having high plant height.

d) Vegetables cultivation practices:

Vegetables are cultivated only in subsistence level in the kitchen garden. Well-decomposed FYM is used for the vegetable crops production. The chemical fertilizer as urea is used in very little quantity. Only the seasonal vegetables cultivated by the responded farmer, in which winter vegetables include cauliflower, cabbage, leafy vegetables and the summer vegetables include cucurbits, beans etc. The pheromone traps and cue-lure are not used during the vegetable crop production. Oil cakes produced from the farmer's own field are used in vegetables field.

FOR MORE CONTACT: HRIDESH SHARMA