Ramesh Sharma is the director of the Sustainable Agriculture Development Program (SADP) located in Pokhara, western Nepal. The mission of the organization is to promote sustainable agriculture and improve the livelihood of farmers and their communities.
Ramesh began SADP because the excessive use of chemicals in his agrobased country have become hazardous to human beings and the environment. “Due to this, soil condition is degrading day by day. Without healthy soil, production cannot be increased. I have
been struggling in this sector for more than 15 years. There are so many challenges.”
What Ramesh finds most difficult is convincing farmers that organic farming is best long-term because healthier soil increases production and provides healthier food. Still, Ramesh remains hopeful. “I have done many awareness campaigns so I could convince the farmers. Some of them have already started organic farming.
Many volunteer opportunities exist in Nepal in organic agriculture, teaching English, orphan/ refugee care and more. Ramesh says, “If we are able to get more volunteers, certainly we will achieve our goal.”