Biodynamic compost is made from cattle dung and the horns of dead livestock to enrich nutrients in the fertiliser. Image by Sudarshan Chaudhary via Nepali Times. Used with permission. This article by Sanjib Chaudhary was originally published in Nepali Times and an edited version is republished on Global Voices as part of a content-sharing agreement. Across Nepal, the soil has experienced a nutrient decline due to irregular climatic patterns, bad agricultural practices and the overuse of agrochemicals. Ideally, the organic content in the soil is expected to be at 5 percent, however, in most parts of the country, it has dropped below 2 percent. Spiral Farm House located in the small town of Mahuli in the Saptari district in eastern Terai is looking to reverse this trend and is teaching others how to revive soil fertility and improve yields. “I started this farm ten years ago for sustainable farming and conservation of soil and microorganisms,” explains Sudarshan Chaudhary of Spiral Farm House. “We make eight different types of biodynamic composts which not only help revive the soil and give us wholesome food that helps maintain good health.” Chaudhary notes that in Nepal, soil degradation is caused by practices such as intensive cropping, heavy use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and mechanized farming. Sudarshan Chaudhary of Spiral Farm House in Saptari district proudly displays his harvest of cauliflower. Image via Nepali Times. Used with permission. The compost at Spiral Farm House has been doing wonders for the farm. Chaudhary says that his compost replenishes the soil nutrients organically, leading to better harvests and yield. In addition to the manure and compost from cow dung, cattle horn, bone, silica, straw, twigs, dried leaves, and plants, the farm also produces liquid fertilizers and biopesticides from medicinal plants and locally available materials. Biodynamic farming follows traditional farming practices and relies only on locally sourced raw materials to achieve soil self-sufficiency. The need for supplemental sources of nutrients, such as cow dung, bones, and straw, arises from the subpar soil fertility found in Nepal. Due to its reliance on organic inputs for soil fertility, biodynamic farming requires a holistic approach that incorporates crop rotation, crop-livestock integration, and natural seasonal farming cycles. Kabindra Yadav of a biodynamic farm growing organic vegetables and fruits in Kanchanrup municipality in the eastern Tarai. Image by Subodh Kumar Chaudhary via Nepali Times. Used with permission. In Chaudhary’s farm, cow horn manure is made by burying fresh manure of pasture-fed cows in hollowed-out animal horns for six months. Horn silica, which helps nourish plants, is made from the marrow buried in the horns of cattle. The other six varieties are medicinal plants used to improve the microbial population, which is necessary for soil fertility. Biodynamic farming increases crop productivity and nutritional quality while also improving soil carbon sequestration, the process of revitalizing the soil. Microbes play a major role in carbon storage in the soil. Encouraged by successful yields produced using biodynamic techniques, Chaudhary has also turned to mentoring and motivating the next generation of farmers in Saptari and surrounding districts. “I teach youth why biodynamic farming is important and why we should adopt it for sustainability,” says Chaudhary, who learned the basics of biodynamic farming during a training in 2012. Since then, he has trained more than 200 other farmers from Sunsari, Morang, Saptari, Siraha and Chitwan districts. Suman Kumari Mirdaha, a 24-year-old business management student, has been assisting her parents in growing rice, lentils, and vegetables since she attended Chaudhry's biodynamic farming training. She considers organic farming to be the solution to the increasing concerns related to the climate crisis. Sukhi Lal and Lalit Chaudhary, both in their 50s and residing in the Saptari district, received training in biodynamic farming from Spiral Farm. Sukhi Lal cultivates biodynamic vegetables that he claims fetch a higher price compared to chemically fertilized crops. Lalit's farm has seen an improvement in soil quality as a result of utilizing biodynamic techniques. Consumers buying organic products at the Spiral Farm House Organic Farmer’s Shop at Lahan. Image by Subodh Kumar Chaudhary via Nepali Times. Used with permission. Despite the adverse effects on soil, the drive to increase earnings is leading most farmers in Agnisair Krishna Sawaran Rural Municipality to use higher amounts of chemical fertilisers each year.