Farmers’ Perception on Existing Problems of Soil Fertility Management in Mid-Hills of Nepal

Abstract

Maintaining soil fertility is essential for prosperity and sustainability of any agricultural system. Nepal is facing major issues in maintaining soil fertility in agriculture sector mainly in mid-hills. Mid-hills, which accounts for more than 37% of total agriculture land has upland terrace farming system, which is intensively cultivated, with high labor input and high degree of subsistence. With the rise in population and increase in food demand soil fertility management is essential. The farmers are engaged in traditional farming practices which has evolved into complex system where livestock, husbandry, crop production, forestry are practiced together. The undulating topography, climatic condition, unavailability of fertilizer is some of the key factors causing land degradation and low productivity. Accordingly, the objective of this study is to identify farmers’ perception on existing problems of soil fertility in mid-hills of Nepal. This study was conducted on the basis of questionnaire surveys and field visits. Questionnaire surveys were conducted among households in eastern mid-hill region of Dhankuta District, Nepal. The results showed that farmers possessed indigenous knowledge for identifying and characterizing fertility of soils. Farmyard manure was used widely in maintaining soil fertility. Generally, farmers responded that soil erosion and low fertility was major problems faced in agriculture. Lack of resources and proper soil and management strategies was the main cause of the problem resulting in soil degradation and thus nutrient loss and decrease in productivity. To overcome such problems scientific approach on understanding the physical and chemical characteristics of soil should be applied to propose suitable sustainable conservation practices.