YPARD Nepal Communications focal point- Nikita Bhusal presented "Youth and Agriculture: Challenges and Opportunities" at 4th International Agronomy Congress, November 22-26, in New Delhi, India. More from conference: https://ypard.net/2016-november-30/ypard-10-years-celebrations-international-agronomy-congress

1. Challenges & Opportunities: YPARD Nepal Case study
Presenter
Nikita Bhusal
Communications focal point
Youth and Agriculture

2. • Youth= 16-40 years (a/c to Nepal’s National Youth Policy)
• 40.68 % of total population
• A huge opportunity to utilize youth potential in main
stream of nation’s development
• But this youth population is becoming a major challenge!
Nepal: national scenario

3. Unemployment and youth migration…
• Every year around 400 K youth arrive in the Nepali job market,
but only 5% of them are able to land a job in the country
•Population among who go abroad for work are as
 1% = skilled/ trained
 24% = semi-skilled
 75% = unskilled
Source: Nepal Labor Survey 2015
Problems
Photo: The Himalayan Times

4.  Youths are moving away from agriculture due to lack of
basic amenities, professional knowledge and inspirational
pathways for their employment security.
 Common Challenges
 Access to knowledge, information and education
 Access to land
 Access to finance service
 Access to green jobs
 Access to markets
 Engagement in policy dialogue
Challenges in Agriculture

5.  We organized a workshop in 2015 including 40 Nepalese
young professionals to discuss the future of the agro-
based entrepreneurship development in Nepal, where we
identified 6 major challenges of
YPARD Nepal Case Study
Financing
Loan lending
Source
Collateral
Suitable policy
Youth focus,
Enterprise protection
Taxation
Capacity building provisions
Social security
Lack of
dignity in
profession
Tedious job/ labor based/
Mechanization
Awareness materials
Encouragement/awards
Access to
information
Research findings
Success cases
Innovative ideas sharing
Service providers
Entrepreneurial skill
Protection to
investors
Youth entrepreneurs
Micro/small industries
Disaster Risk reduction
Saving/revolving fund
Expansion
services
ICT applications
Information system
Visits/knowledge and experience
sharing

6. There are small but growing number of young
people, reorganizing farming into viable enterprises
through sustainable intensification and
creative marketing in Nepal.

7. • EduMala Mentoring Program to build the interpersonal skills of
Nepalese young agricultural professionals
• Food Fair in promotion of nutritional values
Our Initiatives (in 2016)

8. • Grant Writing Workshop
- to enhancing the quality of grant and technical writing among YPs
- to increase their knowledge and skills in business planning strategy
• Storytelling Contest for Young Agri-entrepreneurs (ongoing)
- to bring in the entrepreneurs with the most innovative and motivating
stories of youth enterprises with the best social potential and impact