Nepal, with over 60% of its population reliant on agriculture, faces challenges in transforming its agrarian economy. Of the 12 million people engaged in agriculture, a significant number struggle to produce enough to sustain themselves year-round. Factors such as difficult terrain, poor infrastructure, lack of market access, and a critical information gap hinder productivity.
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) presents a transformative opportunity to address these challenges. With growing smartphone adoption and increasing internet penetration in rural Nepal, ICT tools are becoming viable solutions for disseminating crucial agricultural information. Here, we explore key ICT initiatives revolutionizing agriculture in Nepal.
Key ICT Initiatives in Nepalese Agriculture
1. GeoKRISHI
GeoKRISHI integrates satellite data with government and crowd-sourced information to provide location-specific agricultural insights. Farmers can access crop suitability data, technical advice, and financial estimates via this mobile and web-based platform.
- How it Works: When farmers register with their mobile number, the app utilizes GPS to deliver tailored information. For example, a farmer in Chitwan can learn which crops grow best in their soil type, optimal planting and harvesting times, and potential market earnings.
- Recognition: GeoKRISHI has won the Global Data-Driven Farming Prize and collaborates with Nepal’s Ministry of Agriculture to release crop suitability charts.
- Founder’s Insight: Rajan Bajracharya, the creator, emphasizes, “We’re organizing unstructured data to provide meaningful, actionable information to farmers.”
2. Krishi Guru
Krishi Guru is a mobile app offering localized information on weather forecasts, pest control, fertilizers, and market prices. Farmers can also post queries in a community forum and receive expert advice.
- Features: The app provides real-time trading prices of vegetables and contacts for market sellers. Additionally, it delivers updates on government and NGO opportunities.
- Development Journey: Developed by Siban Chaulagain, Krishi Guru started as an SMS-based service in Sindhuli and evolved into a comprehensive app.
- Achievements: The app won the Data-Driven Farming Prize, Ncell App Camp’s Grand Winner Award, and other accolades.
3. Smart Krishi
Smart Krishi focuses on practical, hands-on agricultural knowledge. The app offers information on high-value crops, soil types, weather forecasts, and government training programs.
- Interactive Features: Farmers can query experts directly and connect with successful peers for experiential learning.
- Popularity: With over 115,000 installations, Smart Krishi remains a trusted name among Nepalese farmers.
- Founder’s Vision: Anil Regmi, the creator, aims to inspire youth to adopt modern farming techniques. “We act as a bridge, connecting farmers with success stories and actionable methods,” he says.
4. NepaliKrishi
NepaliKrishi, developed by Solve Nepal, is another impactful ICT tool for farmers. This app provides comprehensive guidance on modern farming practices, weather updates, and market information. It connects farmers with agriculture experts and traders, allowing them to access timely advice and sell their produce more efficiently. The app also integrates video tutorials and success stories from experienced farmers, inspiring users to adopt innovative techniques. NepaliKrishi has been praised for its user-friendly interface, making it accessible even to less tech-savvy farmers in rural areas.
Benefits of ICT in Agriculture
- Improved Decision-Making: Farmers can make informed choices about crops, fertilizers, and pest management using real-time data.
- Market Access: ICT tools enable farmers to track market prices, contact buyers, and reduce exploitation by middlemen.
- Weather Forecasting: Apps provide timely updates, helping farmers plan for climate uncertainties.
- Community Engagement: Social media and forums foster knowledge sharing and peer learning.
- Youth Involvement: Technology attracts young entrepreneurs to agriculture, revitalizing interest in farming.
Challenges and Future Prospects
While ICT initiatives hold promise, challenges such as digital literacy, affordability, and lack of robust internet infrastructure in remote areas persist. Government support and long-term planning are crucial to scale these solutions.
Encouraging trends show that returning Nepali youth with overseas experience are investing in commercial agriculture. With ICT tools bridging information gaps, Nepal is witnessing an undercurrent of agricultural innovation.
Conclusion
ICT is revolutionizing Nepalese agriculture by empowering farmers with tools to improve productivity and resilience. Innovators like GeoKRISHI, Krishi Guru, Smart Krishi and NepaliKrishi exemplify how technology can address systemic challenges. With sustained government investment and community adoption, Nepal’s agriculture sector can transition from subsistence to sustainability, paving the way for an agricultural renaissance.
This article is based on the report of the Solve Nepal