Return Analysis of Commercial Farming: A Survey Study of Suryabinayak Municipality, Bhaktapur

Abstract

The agriculture sector is an engine of economic growth. Around 1.34 billion people worldwide have been working in the agriculture sector. Likewise, around 70-80 percent world's agricultural land is managed by around 500 million family-managed farms that produce more than 80 percent of the world's food. Our neighboring countries China and India are becoming top agriculture producers in the world. Even in Nepal, agriculture is the most important sector in terms of income and employment generation. The agricultural sector accounted for about 27.6 percent of national GDP in 2019/2020 and 60.04 percent of the total population derives its livelihood from agriculture and unallied activities. In this background, this study tried to explain return analysis of commercial farming practices performing around Suryabinayak Municipality. In doing so, the indicators private returns (i.e. economic and non-economic) and social returns (i.e. economic and non-economic) of commercial farming have been highlighted. The household survey was applied for collecting required data from 180 role model farmers residing in entire 10 wards of the Municipality. This study found that agriculture is a priority sector of local government and primary source of family earning of the local people. The productivity of the role model farmers have been increased due to the modern farming system that is supported by the local government and other concerned institutions. The migrated households are also involving in commercial farming. Majorities of the farmers are young whose age falls between 21-32 years. More so, commercial farming is creating both self-employment and employment opportunities to the local people. Thus, private and social returns of the role model farmers found satisfactory that is upgrading their family income and improving quality of life. Besides, the trend of organic farming practices is increasing in the study area as majorities of the farmers are using compost fertilizers, organic insecticides and pesticides. Finally, knowledge generated from this study can be applied in knowledge level as well as practice and poly levels.