Announcing an 11-point recommendation on Sunday at a press conference, they stressed on a gradual switch to organic farming from the existing method that encourages heavy use of chemical fertilizers for increasing farm outputs. [break]
The experts, who are members of a recently formed Nepal Organic Foundation (NOF), a think tank dedicated to promote proper adaptation of organic farming in Nepal, have also suggested reducing subsidy on chemical fertilizers so that environmental friendly farming system could gradually expand.
The recommendations consist of monthly subsidy of Rs 500 to each farmer for rearing cattle for organic fertilizers, construction of improved sheds and a system for producing compost fertilizers, and technical support for producting organic pesticides.
Similarly, they have also suggested that the government encourage farmers groups in production, standardization, transportation and marketing of organic products. The recommendations also include special income tax exemption, VAT, and dividend tax for certain period for those who are involved in processing and exports of organic fertilizers; cash incentives of 10 to 25 percent of total export volume of organic products depending on export quantity.
Experts also demanded that the government form a ´National Organic Farming Development Promotion Coordination Committee´ to be led by prime minister, declare chemical fertilizer free areas at VDC level and continue the policy incentives in coming years as well to promote organic farming.
“We have no option but to adopt the organic farming for sustainable growth of agriculture as increasing use of chemical fertilizers has been proved to be detrimental to farm productivity in the long run,” said Deepak Prakash Baskota, chairperson of NOF. The expert team had also called on president Dr Ram Baran Yadav last week to seek support in promoting organic fertilizers in the country.
Members of the NOF including Dr Jagadish Chandra Pokharel, former vice-chairman of National Planning Commission (NPC), Former Finance secretary Bidhyadhar Malik, agronomists Dr Hari Karishna Upadhya and Madan Rai, among others, also stressed on the need of a gradual shift to organic farming.
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