Prospect of Farmers in Generating Additional Income Through Organic Vegetable Farming : A Case Study in Kathmandu Valley and Chitwan District of Nepal <Article>

Deteriorating environmental services from irrational and long-term use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and market demand reinforced the movement of organic farming in Nepal. With growing market it is to be expected that organic farmers are comparatively earning more income. This study was conducted to see if such assumption holds true for all the farmers involved. It focuses particularly on organic vegetables as they are considered cash generating crops and have been in growing demand. Kathmandu valley has a more vibrant organic market whereas in Chitwan district the momentum of organic farming is growing through group conversion. Thus, these two areas were chosen for the study. The study was being conducted in two phases: in late-2011 and mid-2012, by interviewing 60 farmers from each area through semi-structured interview. Selection was done through snow-ball and random sampling method. Relevant information was also gathered through key-informant interview and group discussion. Study showed that market was still based on community trust and certification seems to play minor role in ensuring premium price for organic vegetables. In order to improve income from organic vegetables, developing market mechanism is primarily deemed necessary followed by group conversion, research and development and generating more awareness among general public.