A study of the effect of organic farming on the livelihood of small holders in Nepal

Abstract

Agriculture is the key economic activity and a source of livelihood for the newlinemajority of the population in Nepal. Out of 28.15 million populations, 67 percent newlineworks in the agriculture sector, accounting for 38 percent of the GDP. Historically, newlineNepalese farmers were following the same agricultural practice which is now called newline organic farming . Their production to feed themselves was enough and there was no newlinequestion of food security. But with the growing population and to meet their food newlinedemands and the demand of cash income from agro products, government has newlinefocused the agriculture prospective plan promoting directly and indirectly the newlineintense use of agro-chemicals focusing mono crop high yielding varieties. newlineOn the other hand, increasing market demand of organic produces, realization newlineof human health hazards, deteriorating ecosystem and natural resources and ultimate newlineeconomic losses in livelihood have advocated the need to change the agricultural newlinesystem towards organic and sustainable production system. newlineOrganic agriculture was first appeared as one of the priority sectors in newlineNepalese agriculture in the 10th Five Year Plan 2002-2007 (FY 2059/060-2063/064). newlineWhile reviewing the agricultural and related policies organic agriculture has never newlineseen as a focused program. The National Agriculture Policy (2061) states that the newlineorganic products are for foreign export market. Subsidies have been mentioned for newlineexport commodities like coffee, tea, black cardamom, etc. Sustainable development newlineplan for domestic organic market is still to appear. The main objective of this study newlinewas to explore the socio-economic contribution of organic agriculture. The study was newlinebased on the pragmatic philosophy and theory of adoption or diffusion of innovation. newlineThe study had applied the mixed method: quantitative and qualitative newlineresearch design. It was deductive approach; theory testing process. The study hadcovered the four districts: Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktpur and Dhading. Organic newlinefarmers were the primary respondents included in st