Though organic farming system has been widely accepted and many countries are adopting this system, still many people are without the correct knowledge of organic farming. Many farmers are deprived of the information about the advantages of organic farming against the conventional system. Government has not made clear policy regarding this. Many people even don’t know the health benefits of organic products. They always deny the fact that the requirement for plants can be given from organic matter as well. Another challenge is the lack of biomass and organic matter for input in the field. Not every people are rearing livestock. They don’t even let the initial crop residue in the farm as they are feed to the livestock. With lesser amount of nutrients and microbes in the soil, the plants demands for the external fertilizers. People are not provided with proper skill and techniques for organic farming and there aren’t much project or programme apprising people about the health as well as environmental benefit of the organic farming.
Similarly, the farmers are sighted only towards the yield. They don’t care about the fertility or any other thing soil is going through. Organic farming slowly helps to replenish the soil as before but wouldn’t give the instant high yield like that of conventional one and this actually creates huge reluctance for the farmers to shift towards organic farming. Likewise, the initial input needed in the organic farming could be more and the difficulty in instant control during infestation of serious insect-pests objects to perform the organic farming.
Besides, marketing of those organic products, lack of knowledge on bio fertilizer, green manure, bio pesticide etc are also major problems in this field. Agricultural products from organic farming should be transported as fast as possible. People use various chemicals to show the freshness of the products in case of conventional farming but in case of organic agriculture, the post- harvest longevity couldn’t be increased by means of chemicals which raise ultimation for organic farmers. Similarly, in today’s world of external beauty, organic products happen to be lesser beautiful, which repel the consumers. People due to lack of knowledge are attracted towards good looking shiny products painted with chemicals rather than the average looking organic products that is demotivating the organic farmers. Organic products are usually sold at higher prices than other ones, which makes it more challenging in marketing.
Another problem is the certification bodies in our country. There are various issues in the whole process which directly or indirectly hamper the trading of these products. About half of the organic farmers in Nepal are not aware about the certification process. And rest of them find this process very difficult. Certification for international market is also complex and expensive due to no recognition of government and other related institution. The third party in the certification process create lengthy and costly paper works. This can discourage the financially weak farmers. Still government have not taken a worthy step in this field. Organic products are not promoted as much as it should be. There is completely no co-ordination in this factor. All people are noticing is higher yield at short time, which have made it more challenging. Government have not prioritized the organic products from other products. They still are treated as same. There are not much organic fairs and market which have created organic products to stay behind. Moreover, there is no proper grading and branding of the products.
No matter whatever the problems, for every problem, there exists a solution and at the very least, an opportunity. With the vision to create better future and healthy world, the challenges must be outshined. At first, every people must be made aware about the health benefits of organic products so that they won’t only go for shiny good products but rather choose healthy average looking organic products. Also the farmers must be wised up about the environmental benefits and sustainability of soil. Government should provide better incentives and rewards for organic producers. In addition, the provision of nearby market would reduce the problem of postharvest loss faced by famers. Organizing more organic fair and expo could be another way to drive the attention of huge mass on the value and importance of organically grown products as well as to promote organic agriculture. Similarly, organic certification should be made quick and easy so that even the small holders and uneducated farmers could certify their products. Overall the people must be made acquainted with every benefits of organic farming and government must give best effort to solve all the existing challenges and make the nation, an organic nation.
