Organic Farming: For Human Health and the Environment

 Organic Farming: For Human Health and the Environment

What actor Rajesh Hamal said in one episode is relevant. The story he narrated is as follows:

A doctor told me that he is not surprised why people are getting sick now. The wonder is that how are people living now? Because most of the food that people are eating now is not pure, fresh and organic. Not only junk food, processed food, fruits, milk, vegetables are also poisonous. He is surprised how people are living even after eating such food.

Yes, if you take a quick look in your kitchen, you will hardly find organic food. However, they are seen everywhere in the city as 'organic vegetables and fruits'. Are those fruits and vegetables available in the market really organic?

Organic farming means that not only the seeds, chemical fertilizers, and drugs are not used, but also no one around should use such things in the field.

In 6, 7 and 8 wards of Gyalchung of Gandaki Rural Municipality of Gorkha, it was found that among the commercial vegetable growers who use a lot of pesticides, around 50 people are suffering from cancer. Considering that, the use of pesticides in agriculture, how it has affected human health, whether the farmers are aware of the use of pesticides is being studied in the joint efforts of Gandaki rural municipality and Directorate of Research and Broadcasting of Agriculture and Forestry University.

Even if pesticides are used to increase production, farmers should be informed about what kind of pesticide to use and how much to use. There are also pesticides that have less impact on human health, they should be used. After a few days of using the pesticide, its effectiveness decreases. It is important for farmers to know that only after that they will take it to the market.

Let's say a large amount of pesticide is used on golbenda today, if it is brought to the market the next day, it can have a negative impact on human health. Even if pesticides are used, it is important to inform the farmers that if they are picked and brought to the market after a few days, the effects will be less. However, this is an alternative solution. It is best not to use pesticides.

Those who studied agriculture should promote organic farming. Therefore, we are imparting the knowledge that organic farming should be done to the students of Agriculture and Forestry University. Many students who studied agriculture have also practiced organic farming.

If someone practices organic farming, how beneficial is it? Does he get subsidy or not? It is necessary to study that.

There is a lot going on at the international level about the production and use of organic food. But because chemical fertilizers and pesticides cannot be used for organic production, production decreases and costs are high. Therefore, it is customary for the government to give subsidies to organic farmers in Europe and America.

In Nepal, there is no subsidy system for organic producers. In this way, the farmers can be taken to organic farming by doing semi-organic rather than direct organic farming.

Organic produce also fetches good prices in the market. But unless there is a good system to check whether the farmers have produced organic products, there is a possibility of using chemicals even if they are organic. Therefore, organic production can be increased in Nepal if subsidies are given after certifying organic production.

If the government pays attention to how to certify organic products, the environment and human health will improve in a sustainable way.

Ways to increase organic farming

In the context of Nepal, organic farming is not impossible. Not only does it take more investment, time and patience, but also the production is reduced with organic technology, so agricultural products that are in high demand abroad can be cultivated with this technology.

Technical services should also be provided there by designating a specific location for organic farming. Even in Nepal, products like fruits, cardamom and ginger can be made organic immediately. It is important to be certified organic.

A product can be marketed globally as a geographical indication as a trademark. For example, basmati rice from Kolkata, India is very popular, which is also sold in Europe. It is necessary to make policies and rules related to GI in Nepal.

If we get our product certified as a Geographical Indication, it will get market not only in Nepali, but also abroad and farmers' attachment to that product will also increase.

Many products of Nepal can be trademarked

Cardamom of Taplejung, ginger of Salyan Kapurkot, Elame tea and other products can be trademarked on geographical basis.

The ginger produced in Kapurkot of Salyan is of very good quality. We have not been able to give it a trademark. Organic production can be increased by giving trademarks to such products.

The use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in export products like tea, coffee, cardamom can be stopped. Because even though the production is low, the price of organic is high due to the importance of organic in the international market.

Organic farming can be increased even if special subsidies are arranged for organic farmers.

In food crops, semi-organic farming can be done

It is not possible to produce organically without the use of pesticides when there are diseases and insects in the grain crops. If chemical fertilizers and pesticides are not used in the case of diseases and insects, the production of food crops will decrease. The productivity of food crops should be increased.

Our need is to be independent in agricultural production by producing more. Therefore, it is not possible to cultivate food crops organically, in this case, the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers can be reduced.