Status and Prospectus of Organic Agriculture in Awalching, Surkhet Nepal

Abstract

The study on the status and prospects of organic agriculture in Awalching, Surkhet-was carried out in Awalching, Chingad rural Municipality of Surkhet district Nepal to find out the current status and prospects of organic agriculture in the study area. The study covered 130 households and the active working population was age group between 25-50 years. The study showed that 71% respondent were still illiterate, 13% of study area was connected to the main road while 87 % area was untouched with road facilities. About 90 % farmers had no knowledge of organic farming. They were still following organic production practices of their own and only very few 10% knows about organic farming. The study also showed that about 64% farmers were moving towards organic agriculture and 36% were still doing invented in conventional practices with less external input of chemical fertilizers except in Zinger farming. This offers a concept of sustainable practices based on environmental responsibility revealed that the households produce average of 510g of kitchen wastes which were being used to prepare compost manure. Out of 130 farmers, only 3% of them used chemical fertilizers and 2% farmers and 90% of the farmers used chemical pesticides and did use external chemical inputs at all respectively. Majority of the products were organic and they selling their products through different channels. 42% of them were selling their products to wholesalers. Also 40%, 9% and 7% of the farmers were selling their products to contractor, retailer and did not produce surplus respectively. It was further revealed that majority of the income generated by the farmers about 30% was used for health issues and medicine while 28%, 12 % and 18% spent on daily live hood, the child education and miscellaneous expenditure respectively and only about 13% of total income was saved for future use. However positive changes in term of investment on children education, health and striating food security by the farmer was observed. The role of organic agriculture and environmental sustainability has positive relationship with each other. Besides on the yield comparisons, organic practices shows higher organic matter in soil, lower energy consumption, lower use of external inputs, better food quality, and the also potential to address global issues like climate change.