Published Paper Details:

Abstract: Organic agriculture in developing countries has increased in past decades especially due to the high demand of or- ganic products in developed countries. This article attempts to present motivational factors influencing the farmers in the conversion to organic tea farming using both primary and secondary sources, for information through interviews with 196 tea farmers in Jitpur and Mangalbare area of Ilam district as well as tea consultants and promoters in this district as a case study. All of farmers have converted their tea farms into organic production for the last five years. It was found that there were different influencing factors for the conversion of their firms into organic tea cultivation. Which include environmental awareness; bright market prospects, economic benefit, health consciousness and sustainability so, while planning programs for the development of the organic tea production in Nepal, policy makers should consider the support of farmers' institutions, provision of training to farmers and raise farmers' awareness about the environmental, economic and health benefits of organic farming.