Organic movement “School to Home” in Nepal

Nepal is land linked and developing county lies between two giant economy growth countries China and India. Though this is small country it is rich in natural resources, flora and fauna. In Nepal organic farming is not a new concept of agriculture. In ancient times, the farmers had engaged in this farming and gained a lot of knowledge on it. The prime aim of organic farming is applying/using natural materials in agriculture and prohibiting the use of the chemical fertilizers and pesticides which ultimately ruins the land.

The development of Science and Technology has made huge changes in various sectors resulting in tremendous development in the world economy. Agriculture is such a sector which has played vital role in this regard. The immense use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has been the usual practice of modern farming in most of the countries for growing agricultural production. This practice has also been a compulsion for all to increase agricultural production and feed their ever increasing population. However, though this has solved the problem for now, it does not bode well for the future with the point of view of human health and destruction of eco-system of the globe. The heavy use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has affected and will certainly affect, directly and indirectly, the surrounding land, water, flora and fauna and insects and animals.

With the use of chemical fertilizers, in the beginning, there is a huge increase in production from the land, but after a while of regular use, the production capacity of the land decreases reaching to a point where one day the production capacity may reach zero – resulting in cascading economic problems and lack of food in certain areas.

Though it may take a while to embrace organic farming, we must surely move in that direction. The move has slowly begun in Nepal with some farmers embracing it. The government of Nepal is also paying attention towards this and making various programs in this direction.

"Going Organic from School to Home" is a project launched to educate the community and students of Sankhu Suntole VDC Ward No. 8 Palubari and Ward No 9 Bishambhara about the benefit of organic farming and supported by Poverty Alleviation Fund (PAF), Nepal.The main objective of the project is to:

• provide appropriate training and informational resources to the community about the sustainable practices of organic farming

• educate the community about the effects of conventional farming on their health and the environment

• integrate a new curriculum focusing primarily on key issues such as safe and sustainable farming practices, nutrition, health, usage of clean water, environmental science and global climate change

• provide hands on lesson and activities to the community of Sankhu and surrounding areas

• provide vocational training about organic farming to the students of Sankhu Palubari Community School grade six to eighth.

• train the villagers about organic farming so that it helps every individual and the overall community to generate income source for their living and to educate their children.