Impact of Plant Clinics on Farmers’ Knowledge, Attitude and Practice With Plant Health Issues

Plant clinics in Nepal has been started in 2008 and has coverage in more than 40 districts of Nepal. A study has been conducted in Chitwan district of Nepal to assess the changes on farmer’s knowledge attitude and practice due to implementation of plant clinics. Total of 175 clinic attendants and 175 non-attendants were selected by simple random sampling method and interviewed by using semi-structured questionnaire. By and large, this study found wider positive changes among clinic attendants than non-attendants especially on their knowledge and skills to identity pests and diseases with their causes and practice appropriate remedial measures against those problems. The study revealed positive impact to by increasing knowledge and skillset among attending farmers to assess the season of disease and pest occurrence, estimate economic threshold level as well as preventive and curative measures against the plant health problems. Plant clinic has made impressive positive changes on adoption of recommended dose of pesticides and organic control methods among attendants than non-attendants. The level of awareness and adoption of waiting period after pesticide use was found higher among attendants than non-attendants

Sustainable Agricultural Development for Small Farmers in Nepal: Myth or Reality?

Small and marginal farmers in Nepal mostly depend on their farms and the forests for their livelihoods. But continued population growth and increasing demands for food, shelter and cloth have stepped up the pressure on land and other natural resources. Furthermore, there is evidence that farmers have been extending the agricultural production area largely by clearing vast tracts of virgin forest, which are a precious natural resource. This has been creating both environmental and economic problems. Because small and marginal farmers have to survive below the subsistence level, in self-perpetuating dismal conditions, ‘sustainable agricultural development’ for them remains a myth rather than a reality. </jats:p

Problems to agricultural sustainability in developing countries and a potential solution: diversity

Problems addressed, in reporting from relevant sources, include population pressure, subsistence agriculture, rural poverty, natural resource depletion with emphasis on deforestation, land degradation, decline in productivity, resource rich/urban biased policies, and gender disparities. Compounded, these problems, which if isolated already pose tough challenges, seem to form an insurmountable barrier in the development path toward sustainable agriculture. Efforts made so far have had impacts below expectations. Recognizing biodiversity as the key stepping stone, the proposition is outlined that prospects will be improved significantly through the recognition of the great potential of diversity in human and technical resources as well. Needed are in‐depth research and thorough multidimensional analyses, to formulate an alternative strategy geared to mobilize the synergy yet hidden in the potential of the three‐pronged resource diversity.</jats:p

Implications of out-migration in rural agriculture: a case study of Manapang Village, Tanahun, Nepal

This study was undertaken to assess the relationship between agriculture and migration in Manapang Village Development Committee (VDC) of Tanahun District, Nepal. A total of 120 randomly sampled households were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Results showed that the average land holding size, irrigated land holding size, livestock holding, income from agriculture, and investment of household income in agriculture to be higher in non-migrating households than in migrating households, whereas total household income was higher in migrating households than in non-migrating ones. The marginal value productivity of labor was lower for major crops than the average wage rate for non-farm work. The size of abandoned land was higher in migrating than non-migrating households. The average share of remittances in household income was 62.50% in migrating households. Out-migration affected the total annual gross agricultural production significantly contributing 16.80 percent to the total variation negatively. A large proportion of the remittances were used for consumption purposes, but only 5% was used in agriculture. Findings of this study reveal that although migration has a positive effect on the overall economy in the rural households, agricultural productivity suffers as a result

Impact of Plant Clinics on Farmers‘ Knowledge, Attitude and Practice With Plant Health Issues

Plant clinics in Nepal has been started in 2008 and has coverage in more than 40 districts of Nepal. A study has been conducted in Chitwan district of Nepal to assess the changes on farmer‘s knowledge attitude and practice due to implementation of plant clinics. Total of 175 clinic attendants and 175 non-attendants were selected by simple random sampling method and interviewed by using semi-structured questionnaire. By and large, this study found wider positive changes among clinic attendants than non-attendants especially on their knowledge and skills to identity pests and diseases with their causes and practice appropriate remedial measures against those problems. The study revealed positive impact to by increasing knowledge and skillset among attending farmers to assess the season of disease and pest occurrence, estimate economic threshold level as well as preventive and curative measures against the plant health problems. Plant clinic has made impressive positive changes on adoption of recommended dose of pesticides and organic control methods among attendants than non-attendants. The level of awareness and adoption of waiting period after pesticide use was found higher among attendants than non-attendants.</jats:p