A perceptive study of organic agriculture in Baglung municipality: farmers’ barriers to and factors influencing adoption

Abstract

The process of modern organic agriculture is still nascent stage in Nepal. Though certain policies have been implemented to promote organic agriculture, the progress towards adoption is below average. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to evaluate farmers’ perceptions of organic agriculture and its associated factors. The survey was conducted in Baglung Municipality, Nepal. The municipality consists of 14 wards; the purposive sampling technique was used to select 100 registered farmers. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were used to present the findings of the study. The study revealed that willingness to adopt or interest in organic agriculture was found to be 2.58 times lower in illiterate farmers in comparison to literate farmers, interest in organic agriculture was found to be 1.48 times lower in females in comparison to male respondents, respondents doing commercial farming are (57.4%) more likely willingness to adopt the organic agriculture, educated respondents are (85%) more likely to adopt the organic agriculture in commercial basis, the respondent male is (65.9%) more likely willingness to adopt the organic agriculture in commercial basis. The factors were surveyed using five points Likert-scale questionnaire. The uninterested ones (37%) stated the following barriers which are ranked in ascending order of means as poor research and extension (1.20), lack of certified inputs (1.22), accredited laboratory (1.28), and technology (1.54), complicated certification (1.63), soil management problems (1.79), low production and market prices (1.97), lack of human resources (2.02). The interested ones (63%) stated the following factors which are arranged as exporting opportunity (1.45), demand (1.53), geographical advantages (1.55), employment opportunity (1.56), good exposure (1.58), development (1.66). Concerned authorities can use this survey to make major changes to establish organic farming.