Impact of Sustainable Soil Management Practices on Tomato M (Lycopersicon esculentum, Mill) production in Dhading District of Nepal

Abstract

Sustainable management of soil is a benchmark of organic and sustainable agriculture. A research on economic impact of sustainable soil management practices on tomato production in Dhading district of Nepal was carried out in 2012 where sustainable soil management (SSM) program was successfully launched for five years. Altogether, 60 tomato producers were selected randomly for the study. Primary data were obtained using pre-tested semi-structured interview schedule, focus group discussion and key informant interview. Per ropani expenditure on seed, manure and average cost in tomato production were found significantly increased whereas, cost of chemical fertilizers, cost of pesticides and total cost were significantly decreased after the adoption of SSM practices as compared to before adopting SSM practices. Gross margin was higher by NRs.1472.31 compared to before SSM practices. Similarly, B: C ratio was significantly higher by 0.32 after using SSM practices whereas, return to scale was 1.098 and 0.719 for after and before adopting SSM practices respectively. Cobb-Douglas production function revealed human labor and organic manure for after SSM practices and seed including organic manure for before SSM practices as the significant factors determining tomato production. All the resources were not utilized to optimum economic level in tomato production and for optimum allocation human labor, expenditure on seed and organic manure is required to increase by 42.1 per cent, 64.1 per cent, 79.6 per cent respectively whereas, expenditure on chemical inputs is required to decrease by 137.1 per cent. For healthy soil and environment and achieving sustainable production and quality product farmers were adopting SSM practices.