Key Highlights

from GIZ Neftalks | 2023 (Surkhet and Dhangadi)

Introduction Materializing the Vision for Organic Province

The Karnali provincial government has set a target to convert Karnali Province into an organic province. Over the past 5 years, the state government has developed policies and raised awareness among private enterprises and locals about the importance of organic farming.

The provincial government envisioned the Organic Agriculture Act 2018, but it has taken longer than intended to draft the necessary guidelines Making Karnali Province an organic province is the top priority for the newly elected government. They intend to put legislation and regulations in place as soon as possible.

The provincial government intends to develop a 15-year plan for sustainable organic farming. Promotional activities such as promoting high-end local crops, certifying organic products, and planning to transition to Internal Control System (ICS) are being carried out to progressively transition farmers to organic activities and supply them with alternative organic raw resources rather than inorganic ones

The Karnali provincial government is collaborating with different organizations for research and development, and preparing the guidelines for the Participatory Quality Control Guidelines and ICS Guidelines to make organic agriculture flourish in Karnali.

Organic agriculture involves maintaining soil, and livestock health and preserving the ecological balance, which is largely intact in the Karnali Province since farmers here use fewer chemical fertilizers compared to other provinces Due to the farmers' inability to access pesticides, insecticides, and chemical fertilizers, the province has wider possibilities of becoming an organic province

The provincial government is planning to establish multiple organic zones within the province to identify which districts require more attention and effort to improve organic agriculture. High-value agricultural products produced locally have the potential to be sold to a larger global market.

While the Indian state of Sikkim can serve as a model for Karnali in terms of organic transformation strategies, the Karnali provincial government lacks the labor force and financial resources that Sikkim has to mobilize the province to move towards becoming organic

The Karnali Province's agriculture budget has been fluctuating in recent years. There is no dedicated budget for organic agriculture, and the budget allocated by local governments lacks particular titles for organic agriculture. Only general funding for irrigation and agricultural programs is provided.

Local government policies for general planning and action also lack an emphasis on organic agriculture. Local governments must incorporate policies made by the provincial government on organic agriculture into their action plans, which is not the case with Karnali Province's local governments.

Guidelines have been issued for farmers to receive the "mulyawan" logo, the brand developed by Karnali Province for the products of Karnali However, the process currently requires farmers (even from remote districts like Kalikot or Jumla) to visit the provincial office, complete the application form, and wait for the provincial government to send them the logo. This procedure can be made easier for farmers in rural areas by delivering these services through their local government. Similarly, the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) can be utilized to efficiently provide organic certificates to small groups.

Coping with rising demand and insufficient supply in organic agriculture has been identified as a significant concern While transitioning to organic agriculture may result in lower yields for farmers in the short run, production can be expected to steadily grow in the long run

Farmers in Karnali lack the necessary information about organic agriculture, which can be considered as an opportunity to educate them. Meanwhile, the private sector has taken initiatives to encourage organic agriculture in Karnali.

The geographical disparity is at the heart of most of the problems in Karnali Province, and it also affects how Karnali is perceived as an organic province Although Karnali covers a large area of the country, the amount of cultivable land present in the province is considerably limited, posing a significant challenge to the development of an organic province Surkhet is the only food-secure area in the province, therefore, the government needs to take subsidized measures to encourage farmers to practice organic agriculture.

Despite Karnali Province's efforts to promote organic agriculture, farmers have been caught smuggling in chemical fertilizers. Apples from Jumla, which are branded and promoted as Karnali's organic product, are particularly vulnerable to increased chemical fertilizer use The government must address such incidents rigorously by tightening laws and regulations

Organic products from Karnali can be promoted by exporting high-value crops as well as by marketing local products like sisnu soup, fapar noodles, marsi rice, and locally grown organic vegetables to domestic tourists. However, a lack of a comprehensive certification procedure, technical staff, and consumer understanding has hampered the marketing efforts of private organizations.

Prioritizing soil programs, private-sector-led projects have launched municipal-level awareness campaigns. Similarly, cold chambers are widely promoted through private ventures to ensure long-term output.

Karnali Province has potential for eco-tourism, particularly in areas like Rara Lake and Shey-phoksundo, where organic products can be promoted. Promoting and marketing Karnali’s organic products through hotels by offering organic items on menus or by having hotels provide a marketplace for organic farmers to sell their produce might also help

A lack of coordination among the three levels of government is a challenge. To realize Karnali's objective of becoming an organic province, the provincial government must work with the federal and local governments to develop particular programs and allocate funds.