--By Suraksha Adhikari 

 

Organic food is slowly getting bigger, both in terms of follower and producer, in Nepal. With the ever-increasing interest among urban Nepalis for organic food, various aspects of organic farming are also surging. Nepali are now more concerned about what they eat and how they are produced or prepared. Being aware of the fact that quality of the products consumed determines health condition, they are willing to pay for healthy food products. This is one of the major reason there is increasing demand for organic vegetables especially in urban areas. This is apparent when you see the growing number of restaurants in the Kathmandu serving dishes made only from Nepali organic food.

 

In the present context, population growth, coupled with the drop in food production, has led to the excessive use of chemical fertilizers and other high output technology to increase agro production. The inability of traditionally produced food to meet the day-to-day needs of the growing population has pushed farmers to adopt newer technologies and use chemicals in farming to increase production. However organic farming provides distinct benefits to its consumers and the environment. Despite other benefits that organic products have, Nepal has not been able to harness the potential of this sector besides few commercial crops that serve as examples of organic farming and organic products such as tea, coffee, honey, ginger, cardamom and medicinal herbs.

 

Steps being taken 

Organic agriculture sector is gaining momentum in Nepal. It possesses great scope for its competitiveness, as Nepal is home to many products, namely spices, essential oils and medicinal plants, fresh fruits and vegetables.  

 

The National Standard for organic agriculture has also been established and endorsed by the government, and working guidelines for two certification systems (Internal Control System and Participatory Guarantee System) are being developed, both of which will serve as an important instrument for taking advantage of the international and domestic markets. The latter is a certification scheme particularly for small farmers whose products are of high demand in the local market, but who cannot meet the high cost of certification.

 

The Organic Village Kathmandu’s product range: Rice, lentils, jams, beans, honey along with different vegetables and fruits and dairy and meat products. Most of the products are grown in mountainous places like Jumla, Humla and Mustang. Some premium products of The Organic Village are Jumli Marsi Rice from Jumla (grown at 2500 m); Kalo Dal (black lentils) from Rasuwa (grown above 2000 m); red rice and yellow rice from Humla; frog meat (called ‘paha’). All together, The Organic Village gets its products from 33 districts of the country. It has recently begun exporting organic products of Nepal to the United Kingdom, the Unites States, South Africa and Qatar.

 

Organic Farms in Kathmandu

Samir Newa, founder of The Organic Village in Baluwatar, Kathmandu and the pioneer of organic farming in the country said that the interest in organic food products, whether it is fresh apples or vegetables, among the medium-high class families is growing. However, he noted that some people consider organic lifestyle as ‘fashionable’ rather than actually a way to promote healthy lifestyle.

 

“A majority of the people are still not aware of ‘organic culture’ in Kathmandu itself,” said Newa adding, “Organic food is considered to be out of reach of the public as they are expensive and difficult to find.” Similarly, a sample study conducted among 500 medium-class people in the Capital by Newa in 2011 claims that only 34 percent of the respondents had knowledge of organic farming and products. Of them,17 percent respondents partially used organic food products and only four percent completely used such products. “The government has failed to come up with friendly policies and programmes to encourage organic farming that would protect public health from unwanted chemicals,” Newa said.

 

The Organic Village was founded in 2003 with the aim of not only growing chemical free food, but also of creating public awareness about the benefits of organic food. The Organic Village is supported by development agencies like UNDP, Winrock International, GTZ, Micro Enterprise Development Program, Small Grants Program. According to Samir Newa, foods grown at high altitude contain less fat than those grown in warm regions. 

 

Problems and Challenges

Emphasis on organic agriculture at policy and programme level looks inadequate for its development and promotion. There is a virtual lack of government support to organic growers and marketers. It is necessary that marketability of any organic products, and that too at a premium price over the traditional and modern products has to be assured before starting the cultivation of organic crops. Mass production of organic products and the business volume for market sale are still invisible. Research work on processing and certification are weak and, in many cases, are missing. 

 

Organic farming has its own shortcomings in Nepal. Poor technical skills and capacity in managing complex farm land problem, insufficient organic technology to support production, lack of research on processing and certification, poor investment capacity, small and fragmented land holding, and less risk bearing capacity among others are the key constraints at the producers’ level. Poor consumers’ awareness about organic products, quality and availability, lack of trust regarding the authenticity of the products, higher prices of organic products, impoverished market infrastructure are the constraints at marketers’ level.

 

Prospects and Possibilities  

Organic farming holds out huge prospect in Nepalese context. Co-ordinated efforts among the actors are essential to boost it by meeting the challenges on the way to its development. Suresh Prasad Neupane, Member of Paurakhi Samudayik Krishi Sahakari said, “Policy environment and clear long term vision and plan including research, extension, market development and commercialization of this sector are vital for the growth of this sector.” Adding that organic industry is too small and has a long way to go in Nepal he said, “Political commitments such as avoiding conflicting drive to maximize production, hammering proactive policy, initiating organic technology research, providing market incentives and institutionalization of Nepalese organic movement are imperative to further enhance organic sector in Nepal.”  

 

 

National level committees are formed for boosting organic farming in Nepal.

• National Organic Agriculture Accreditation Body (NOAAB): It accredits and certifies organic products.

• National Coordination Committee for Organic Agriculture Production and Processing System (NCCOAPPS): It helps in strengthening production and processing of organic agriculture.