Determinants of Small-Scale Commercial Vegetable Farming Among Vegetable Growers in Nepal

Various socio-economic factors play important roles in the adoption of commercial vegetable farming. Understanding these factors is crucial in enhancing the existing low rate of vegetable commercialization in Nepal, thereby achieving the overall development goal of poverty reduction. This article analyzes the personal, technical, and business factors associated with the adoption using Nepal Vegetable Crops Survey 2009-2010 data. A probit analysis is carried out. Caste/ethnicity is a critical factor hindering the adoption in Nepal. An awareness program to facilitate marketing of vegetables produced by the socially disadvantaged caste/ethnic groups and targeting them in interventions would be helpful in enhancing the rate of vegetable commercialization. Similarly, facilitating access to technical factors, mainly technical assistance, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and improved seeds, would promote commercial vegetable farming. Such interventions can be introduced in vegetable production potential areas of Hills and Tarai. Land consolidation might not be important. Rather, any program or policies to facilitate secure land-tenure, which encourages farmers to invest in land development, would boost vegetable commercialization. Similarly, identification of vegetable cultivation areas and provision of irrigation in those land parcels would be vital.