Rastriya Dhan Diwas 2081

Nepal is famous for its cultural diversity. Different kinds of festivals are celebrated in the country on different occasions and seasons with the message of peace and harmony. The Government of Nepal has announced 15th of Ashadh of each year as ”Dhan Diwas” or “National Paddy Day”. During this special day falls on 29th June this year as usual, the farmers plough and plant paddy in the field singing seasonal folk songs.

As soon as the monsoon arrives, an exciting mood with happiness appears in the faces of the farmers and they become busy with the preparation of the paddy plantation. All the able members of the family get together start planting the paddy and also help each other to complete the plantation. With the hope of good harvest, the farmers get into the muddy field and do the plantation.

Even though Nepal is an agricultural country, only 21 percent of the total agricultural lands have been provided with irrigation facilities. Rest of the land are devoid of irrigation facility or the lands dried up turning into barren lands due to lack of supply of water to the lands.

The irrigation system covers only 40% of Nepal’s agricultural land, and only 19% of the irrigated land in Nepal receives year-round irrigation. With many farmers relying on rain-fed cultivation, the escalating challenges posed by shifting weather patterns are exacerbating difficulties in sustainable production and livelihoods.

Moreover, Nepal’s diverse physiographic zones lead to unequal irrigation and technology access distribution between the hills and plains, necessitating tailored solutions. Major policy changes are required to reimagine Nepal’s modern irrigation programs to ensure YRI through Renewable Energy irrigation and expedite this energy transition in the agriculture sector, making them more inclusive, sustainable, and scalable.

In Nepal, around 2 third of the population is involved in agriculture. The seasonal nature of farming leads to widespread underemployment, but programmes to grow cash crops and encourage cottage industries have had some success over the years. Although, once an exporter of rice, the country has been facing a food deficit and spending a huge fund to import food materials which is at an increasing ratio.

As the economy is dominated by agriculture which has been the highest priority because economic growth was dependent on both increasing the productivity of existing crops and diversifying the agricultural base for use as industrial inputs.

The World Bank mentions that agriculture is the main source of food, income, and employment for the majority in Nepal. It provides about 33% of the gross domestic product (GDP).

With aims to increase agricultural production and diversify the agricultural base, the government focused on irrigation, the use of fertilisers and insecticides, the introduction of new implements and new seeds of high-yield varieties, and the provision of credit. So as government has been providing subsidy to the farmers in different forms. But reports show that the target groups are not getting the support as people in-between take more benefit.

A study conducted with support of the Climate and Development Network (CDKN) revealed that about 0.8% of agricultural GDP is being lost annually due to climate change and extreme events. There is a need to both improve agricultural productivity and make it more resilient to climate uncertainty and change in general. Recent increases in floods and droughts have raised concerns that the climate is changing rapidly and that existing arrangements for irrigation design and management may need to be reconsidered.

Above statement strongly supports that plans and policies on agriculture should focus on quality food sufficiency, employment opportunities, checking imported input materials such as chemical fertilisers, strengthening national economy, minimise climate check effects, maintaining soil quality and so on.

Since agriculture is always at high priority, farmers need supports to put their efforts in producing food grains, vegetables, fruits, livestock and so on. Value addition to their products with skill and labour could fetch desirable price as well. Therefore, activities such as application of modern but handy machineries and easier methodologies could add product volume and quality both. Enhancement in traditional practices may contribute the farmers to easy working should be considered. Irrigation facility supported by modern technologies can support farmers to produce more in quantity and multiple crops, better quality seeds for better quality products in higher amount. Using of organic fertilisers in lieu of chemical fertilisers, non-harming or less harming insecticides and pesticides to produce healthy products, grants, subsidies and soft loans to support framers to make farming profitable are the needs. Marketing systems to develop for farmers to receive reasonable price of products is also a support the farmers require. Agricultural residues and bi-products are to use as raw materials for energy generating procedures. Capacity building on advancement of knowledge and skill of farmers and value chain actors is another vital activity to be considered. Government policies, concerned agencies, technologies, finance, market and social responsibilities are the key factors to focus.

Thus, RETs (Renewable Energy Technologies) have been thought as important tools to the farmers. RETs have been appreciated in agriculture sector in irrigation. The Solar PV Pumping has been a success in Nepal. The agriculture land remained sans irrigation facility may be added for better cultivation and crops. Although in a small quantity in comparison to requirement, the Government has been developing various electric or solar powered irrigation facilities.

Solar Thermal driers are useful in drying foodstuffs for safe keeping and value addition. Solar powered cold rooms are useful to preserve agricultural products.

The agriculture bio-products are useful in generating energy as using for bio-gas making, and converting to fuel pallets and briquettes, for waste to energy as well.

The slurry, bi-product of bio-gas plants to use as alternatives of chemical fertilisers for healthy agro production, protection of soil quality and reduce import of chemical fertilisers.

Lately, Agrivoltaic also has been a viable technology for utilise the land for farming and also generate electricity by elevated Solar panels.

These available technologies can uplift the income of farmers and their living quality. Consideration on providing modern farming technologies, quality seeds, market systems, borrowing at low interest rate are also the influential aspects other than intervention of RETs to contribute for the betterment of the farmers.

Addressing the reasonable level of assistance to marginalised group in the communities is also to be considered. R&D in agricultural activities and HRD agencies and institutions should be encouraged to impart skills on RET installation, operations and repair and maintenance, Financial aspects required to be easy to work with for the users and the suppliers. Full information on subsidies provided by different levels and channels and credit facilities as well will help the farmers so as will agriculture will support the national economy at a better extent.