DETERMINANTS OF HORTICULTURAL ENTERPRISES IN THE INTEGRATED FARMING SYSTEM OF PLAIN TERAI IN KAILALI, NEPAL

The farming system defined at the household level and influenced by resource variations comprises diverse elements such as crops, livestock, socioeconomics, and farm management. Diverse topography leads to varied integrated farming practices across Terai, Mid Hill, and Mountain regions of Nepal. This study was conducted in 2019 in Kailali, the Terai district within the Karnali River system, focused on analyzing farming systems in the plain Terai of the river system, examining dominant enterprises and adoption factors with emphasis on the factors influencing horticultural enterprise adoption. The dominant integrated farming system included horticulture, livestock, and agronomy. Household participation showed consistent patterns, with a majority opting for main cereal and horticultural crops, integrating livestock, and less emphasis on fruit trees. In the study area, the adoption of horticultural enterprise is significantly related to total land ownership, years of experience in farming, and training. The horticultural enterprise, encompassing economically significant cash crops and fruits, is a primary focus in the Terai region. This aligns with government priorities, highlighting the importance of promoting and supporting horticultural practices for economic development in the area. The findings emphasize the importance of considering diverse socioeconomic and personal variables for promoting horticultural enterprise adoption in rural agricultural development in Nepal.