Farmers shift to pesticide-free vegetable production in Tikapur

Tikapur (Kailali): Farmers here have started producing natural vegetables without pesticides. For human health and soil conservation, 140 farmers have begun cultivating vegetables without the use of chemical pesticides.

The farmers say they turned to natural vegetable farming after realizing that the use of pesticides has adverse effects on human health. They have formed eight farmer groups and are engaged in vegetable cultivation.

These groups have been formed in Banagaun and Shankarpur of Tikapur-1, Rajipur and Sitapur of Ward No. 2, Ghiya of Ward No. 3, and Nuklipur of Ward No. 5.

Farmer Min Bahadur Chaudhary, leader of the Asal Chameli Farmers Group in Banagaun, Tikapur-1, said that they have been cultivating for the past three years to reduce pesticide use and promote safe food production. “We have started organic farming to increase soil fertility, increase production, preserve organic bacteria, and produce healthy vegetables,” he said. “We started this after realizing that we were unknowingly harming soil and health. We do not use chemical fertilizers and pesticides in farming; instead, we make organic pesticides at home and use them.”

Farmers have been preparing organic fertilizers at home using weeds, rotten vegetables, urine and other materials. There are 15 farmers in the group in Banagaun. Some are cultivating vegetables on five acres of land, while others are farming on up to 15 acres.

Currently, vegetables such as cucumbers, pumpkins, gourds, okra, chillies and tomatoes are being grown. Consumers have recently started visiting fields to purchase vegetables after understanding the importance of pesticide-free produce. According to Chaudhary, the remaining vegetables are sold in the Tikapur market.

Tikapur Municipality has arranged a separate stall at the market for the convenience of farmers producing organic vegetables. However, farmers complain that they are facing difficulties as the market price remains the same as that of conventionally grown vegetables. Farmer Rubina Chaudhary said that pesticide-free and organic vegetables should have a different pricing structure.

“We are producing in a way that contributes to human health and environmental protection, but the market price is the same as other vegetables,” she said. “We are being affected by this. Now everyone should recognize our efforts, and both consumers and the government should be serious about encouraging farmers who produce vegetables without pesticides.”

An organization called Sewak Nepal is supporting farmers in natural vegetable farming to improve their livelihoods and promote consumer health. Tikapur Municipality is also collaborating in this effort.

Prem Chaudhary, Project Officer of Sewak Nepal, said that the organization is providing seeds, technology and technical support to 140 farmers involved in natural farming.

He added that farmers have been made aware of the impacts of pesticides and chemical fertilizers and have been trained to produce liquid fertilizers using locally available materials as an alternative.