Potentials and Constraints of Organic Tomato Farming

Abstract

Organic agriculture is an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycle and social biological activity. It is used on minimal use of off-farm inputs and enhances ecological harmony. Organic tomatoes are produced using pest management and fertilization methods that do not include synthetic compounds. Nepal is one of the most beautiful countries in the world with lofty snowcapped mountains and scenic, peaceful settings. Nepal having three geographical variations tomato is best suited in Tarai, in low and mid hills; it is becoming increasingly attractive for cash generation in the high hills too. Organic tomato farming is highly followed by Nepalese where Chitwan District consists large numbers of farmers that are following organic tomato farming as cash crops. Chitwan district that falls under the central region lies in Narayani zone of Nepal. The district has many places like Bhandara, Chainpur, Pithuwa, Kshetrapur, Torikhet which are practicing an organic farming culture. The general objective of the study was to explore organic tomato farming potentiality and challenge in Pithuwa village of Chitwan district whereas specific objectives were to assess the level of awareness among the farmers about organic tomato farming, to identity the problems faced by tomato growers and to explore potentiality of organic farming. This study has been carried out mostly on the basis of exploratory research design, also descriptive method of research design is used in order to describe the findings during the study. Qualitative and quantitative data have been collected for the study using both primary and secondary sources. Of the total households, 15 households farmers were selected from those who have adopted organic tomato farming, 24 households were consumers of organic tomato farming and 11 households were from different sectors, all together 50 respondents were selected. To collect data, household survey, key informant interview, observation, method have been used and different computer program, simple statistics tools like table, graphs, have been used for data analysis and descriptive methods has been used for qualitative data. After the research different findings were obtain, after research it was found that among respondents 58% were married and 42% were found unmarried.39 respondents were found following Hinduism and 11 respondents were found following Buddhism, 8 respondents were found illiterate, 30 were literate and remaining 12 respondents had education level above SLC. It was found that Brahmin community had dominated the study area. It was found that 34 respondents were from Brahmin community, 4 respondents were from Pariyar, 6 respondents were from Magar and 6 from Tamang caste. It was also found that 12 respondents were below the age of 30, 25 were of between age group of 31 to 60 and 13 respondents were above 61. It was also found that 31 respondents were female and 19 were male. It was also found that 3 respondents’ purpose of tomato production were self-consumption, 5 respondents’ motive were commercial production and 7 respondents were having both purposes. Study area has huge potentiality to be one of the finest places for organic farming as the very district has a fertile soil which is key factor for crop production. Different attractions like, the environment, the plain land, availability of transportation and information technology and labors has added more value for organic tomato farming. A major challenge to develop this area as agriculture hub is lack of sufficient irrigation, lack of technical knowledge and assistance, problems of diseases and insects and lack of training for farmers that has hindered to product the finest organic tomatoes. I believe that this thesis will contribute in some level for the promotion of the study area as organic tomato farming area, and helps to determine this area as a place having high potentiality of it. This study might be useful for the exposure of Pithuwa VDC area and hope that this thesis will contribute to increase the number of farmers towards organic farming system in study area.