How the scenario of corona could be an opportunity for organic agriculture in Nepal
How the scenario of corona could be an opportunity for organic agriculture IN Nepal
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(IFOAM, 2005 sept). Since, 1980s ecologist environmental and climate activists of Nepal are overplaying and growling for organic agriculture. How much they shout their head off on the issue of organic agriculture, that was leftover only in words. Demand and business oriented large scale agriculture has always been based on chemicals. Nevertheless, the scenario of corona could be an opportunity for organic agriculture in Nepal.
SO far and wide we have been reliant to imported inputs for agricultural production. Insecticide pesticide, chemical fertilizers, Quality seeds, GMO etc are some of the Agricultural vitality for which we have been continuously spreading our hands to international market. Excessive trade of agri-inputs escalating the power of middlemen and business oriented corporation has became the sheer problem Nepalese agriculture facing even during this havoc.
Recently many obstacles on farming system lwaid by pandemic has surfaced our news portals leaving agriculture still. Far and over Fertilizer crisis(barely 1/3 of necessity of chemical fertilizer i.e 12,000 tones is stored by dealers which is even not available for farmers at precedent prices) in Banke and Bardiya is the clear picture of our dependency to chemicals on our frontiers. Genetically modified seeds for which we wait for india and China has become today's critical demand of paddy farmer. All these economical and technical barrier in import of crucials may probably encourage farmers to lean towards heirloom, organic bio-fertilizer and ultimately to self reliancy and organic farming.
On the other hand covid -19 is hunting world peace, prosperity and security so pettishly that every international trade, relation and assistance becomes a threat. As a result, we can easily predict that about 10 lakh Nepalese youth working for foreign remittance would be back to Nepal by the end of this year. Though flocking back of youth cause the end to foreign remittance, use of their knowledge, skill, power in hinterland for agriculture can be opportunity to stabilized our economy and also to Organic agriculture. Blockage in export of chemically articulated crops, vegetables and other agriculture produce (tea, broom, cardamom-Illam) because of protracted lockdown resulted in large destruction of harvest across many parts of Nepal. Drenching of whopping tones of tomatoes and other vegetables in Argakhachi dispatched from kapilbastu, destruction of cabbage in Dhankuta, beans, bittergourd tomatoes in Prasa, destruction of ponderous mass of egg in Chitwan and many other parts of Nepal are viral events that took place during these struggling hours. It's very clear that this situation will prolong if we go on with the current chemical agricultural and management system. So adoption of organic agriculture with small, locally available resouce to produce crops that can meet our sufficiency at mean hour will be time worthy and has grabbed youth attention too.
Beside this, Covid 19 has aware people to healthy behaviour, healthy food habits and healthy livelihood for good heath, immunity and longevity. With the life lesson from covid many people are putting their effort into cultivating healthy crops for their daily need. People having small land holding or no land holding in urban side are involving themself in metro agriculture, roof-top agriculture and hydrophonic too. COVID has change the perception of people against junk foods and push their heart to our organic production like maize, wheat, millet, barley, flaxseed, buckwheat etc. Even government has paid earnest attention to organic agriculture and has promise to prioritize organic crops. Minister to Agriculture Ghan shyam Bhusal has recently declared about the project to build agri-complex in Chovar by the end of this year to support organic farmers. Going through the sprawling huddle laid by the pandemic on agriculture, incumbent government has allocated whopping portion of budget for the promotion of Organic agriculture, production of healthy dairy, poultry and fresh vegetables, enhancement of local seed and heirlooms in fiscal year 2019/2020 out 41 arab 40 crore.
So, picturizing recent needs, reliability
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(IFOAM, 2005 sept). Since, 1980s ecologist environmental and climate activists of Nepal are overplaying and growling for organic agriculture. How much they shout their head off on the issue of organic agriculture, that was leftover only in words. Demand and business oriented large scale agriculture has always been based on chemicals. Nevertheless, the scenario of corona could be an opportunity for organic agriculture in Nepal.
SO far and wide we have been reliant to imported inputs for agricultural production. Insecticide pesticide, chemical fertilizers, Quality seeds, GMO etc are some of the Agricultural vitality for which we have been continuously spreading our hands to international market. Excessive trade of agri-inputs escalating the power of middlemen and business oriented corporation has became the sheer problem Nepalese agriculture facing even during this havoc.
Recently many obstacles on farming system lwaid by pandemic has surfaced our news portals leaving agriculture still. Far and over Fertilizer crisis(barely 1/3 of necessity of chemical fertilizer i.e 12,000 tones is stored by dealers which is even not available for farmers at precedent prices) in Banke and Bardiya is the clear picture of our dependency to chemicals on our frontiers. Genetically modified seeds for which we wait for india and China has become today's critical demand of paddy farmer. All these economical and technical barrier in import of crucials may probably encourage farmers to lean towards heirloom, organic bio-fertilizer and ultimately to self reliancy and organic farming.
On the other hand covid -19 is hunting world peace, prosperity and security so pettishly that every international trade, relation and assistance becomes a threat. As a result, we can easily predict that about 10 lakh Nepalese youth working for foreign remittance would be back to Nepal by the end of this year. Though flocking back of youth cause the end to foreign remittance, use of their knowledge, skill, power in hinterland for agriculture can be opportunity to stabilized our economy and also to Organic agriculture. Blockage in export of chemically articulated crops, vegetables and other agriculture produce (tea, broom, cardamom-Illam) because of protracted lockdown resulted in large destruction of harvest across many parts of Nepal. Drenching of whopping tones of tomatoes and other vegetables in Argakhachi dispatched from kapilbastu, destruction of cabbage in Dhankuta, beans, bittergourd tomatoes in Prasa, destruction of ponderous mass of egg in Chitwan and many other parts of Nepal are viral events that took place during these struggling hours. It's very clear that this situation will prolong if we go on with the current chemical agricultural and management system. So adoption of organic agriculture with small, locally available resouce to produce crops that can meet our sufficiency at mean hour will be time worthy and has grabbed youth attention too.
Beside this, Covid 19 has aware people to healthy behaviour, healthy food habits and healthy livelihood for good heath, immunity and longevity. With the life lesson from covid many people are putting their effort into cultivating healthy crops for their daily need. People having small land holding or no land holding in urban side are involving themself in metro agriculture, roof-top agriculture and hydrophonic too. COVID has change the perception of people against junk foods and push their heart to our organic production like maize, wheat, millet, barley, flaxseed, buckwheat etc. Even government has paid earnest attention to organic agriculture and has promise to prioritize organic crops. Minister to Agriculture Ghan shyam Bhusal has recently declared about the project to build agri-complex in Chovar by the end of this year to support organic farmers. Going through the sprawling huddle laid by the pandemic on agriculture, incumbent government has allocated whopping portion of budget for the promotion of Organic agriculture, production of healthy dairy, poultry and fresh vegetables, enhancement of local seed and heirlooms in fiscal year 2019/2020 out 41 arab 40 crore.
So, picturizing recent needs, reliability
and acceptability the scenario of corona could be an opportunity for organic agriculture in Nepal.
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