Mr. Dinesh Gautam, Nimbus, was one of the keynote speakers who shared insights on challenges and opportunities in agriculture during Ncell App Camp 2014's seminar's series.
2. Agriculture
• Around 35% of GDP comes from agriculture
• Employment opportunity provided to over 65% of the total
population of the country
• We have to import most of the grains and oil seeds from other
countries
• Untapped potential and lack of business focus key
3. Problems in the sector
• Business angle and small landholder
• Farmers have no idea on how to grow their yield- they are
following the traditional methods or copying neighbours.
• Lacks knowledge on Variety, Breed and Suitability
• No real knowledge of the business they are in (faced by Poultry
sector in many parts of Nepal)
• Herd mentality
4. Problems in the sector
• Poor marketing infrastructure and market knowledge
( price variation is too lucrative for middlemen)-
where? How? when?
• Mechanization? ( necessity not a luxury)
• Teaching becomes effective only when we can show
visible results to them
• We have the potential but we have not been able to
tap them
5. Commodities Nepal’s
Average Prod
Internataional Av. Best
Milk 450kgs per
lactation
1000 kgs 9200 kgs
Maize 2281 kgs per
Hectare
4571 kgs per hectare 12000Kgs per
Hectare
Enormous potential to grow
6.
7.
8. Issues in the sector
• Minimum Support to farmers
- lacks information sharing even in the age of smartphones
where real time communication is possible
- MSPs and Buy back guarantees
• Very Slow innovation adoption process
• Selection of commodities for comparative advantage
• Lacks plan of Sustainability ( Pesticide issue)
9. Plausible Solutions
• Engage farmers/producers- provide year round services to
encourage them to grow crops in rotation and livestocks and
assist them to use their resources at the optimum
• Integrate practices – encourage Dairy and organic vegetable
( farming practices that can go hand in hand )
• Right information at the right time -
- the only realistic solution is electronic
- sms/info feeds
- information helps producers to plan crops (cycle crops)
10. Plausible Solutions
• Dupont’s Planting rate estimator helps farmers
to calculate the requirement of seed in the area
• ITC in its e-chaupal, a web based system, started
disseminating information to the farmers
• IFA-krishinepal – educational material for farmers
• There are some applications being developed for
research purposes ( winrock/Practical Action)
11. Mobile Applications
• Use of Smartphone – instrumental in using apps
•Since most of the apps have similar usage procedure- people
introduced to the app usage can understand other apps quickly.
•Great future - Internet penetration is nearly 30% and growing (
mostly mobile internet)
•Lots of apps for Agriculture, Farming Calculators, Articles, Organic
Farming are already there in android and IOS Platform internationally
•Endorsement for the contents- required to be effective
•
12. Benefits of Mobile Applications
• Information sharing
• News/articles
• Weather forecast
• Technology
• Monitor sales
• Price information of inputs and outputs
• Agriculture shows and trade fairs
13. Mobile Application - Limitations
• Mobile applications can assist as a first aid tool but not as an
all in one solution
• Solutions must be tailor made whereas applications can give
generalized info due to diverse topography and multiple farming
practices
• Limited to Guideline only
• Smartphone penetration is still poor specially in farming sector
though 90% of the farmers have the mobile access now
• Education level plays a significant role hence, nepali script
would be very useful
• Should be able to provide real-time information and updates
14. Role of Mobile Applications
Mobile application in Agriculture can have a significant role
Feed and forage calculator in dairy cattle based on milk yield and fat % (
Precision Feeding- not only improves milk yield but also improves
health)
Fertilisers/pesticide application rate and process improves yield with the
same input
In goat farming: Daily weight gain calculator helps to know the variation
between actual and standard – can change the Package of Practices to
attain the same
15. Soybean ( Bhatmas) travels all the way from USA to Nepal
Peas ( Kerau) travels all the way from Canada to Nepal
Potato travels all the way from Bhutan to Nepal
Fish travels all the way from Andhra Pradesh, India to Nepal
Most of the commodities travel thousands of Kilometers to
reach our kitchen
Lets make them travel less- grow them here
Lets educate farmers and provide them market access
A one-stop solution to Prosperity of Nepal!!!
