My Republica

Bhairab Raj Kaini

The contributor for Republica.
news@myrepublica.com

How we failed on onion

Published On: January 5, 2020 09:27 AM NPT By: Bhairab Raj Kaini

Onion is an important vegetable crop in Nepal and it can be grown in all districts. Physiologically, it is a long-day plant and is normally planted in October/November and harvested in May/June. Per capita consumption of onion in Nepal is 7.7 kg, which is far below the world average of 10.8 kg. Even then the domestic production is not sufficient to meet the demand of the country resulting in unavoidable import.

Bringing youth in agriculture

Published On: December 22, 2019 11:03 AM NPT By: Bhairab Raj Kaini

There are numerous opportunities in agriculture for generating employment and income. It is mainly because of varied agro-climatic conditions prevailed in the country. Agriculture presents the highest potential for growth and poverty reduction for the vast majority of rural people provided it is commercialized. But its practices in Nepal are still traditional. This situation has led to slow pace of agricultural commercialization.

Knowledge for agriculture

Published On: November 28, 2019 09:29 AM NPT By: Bhairab Raj Kaini

The government has created 51 Agriculture Knowledge Centers across the country. They will be effective only if we can develop knowledge management culture and capacity of technicians

Can Nepal export citrus fruits?

Published On: November 11, 2019 09:55 AM NPT By: Bhairab Raj Kaini

Citrus is one of the most important fruit crops of Nepal in terms of area coverage, production and export potential.

Tapping into the sun

Published On: October 23, 2019 01:00 AM NPT By: Bhairab Raj Kaini

Using the sun to dry crops and grain is one of the oldest applications of solar energy in agriculture. These days, solar energy can be used in agriculture in a number of ways. It saves money, increases self-reliance, and reduces pollution. Solar panels can be used to power an irrigation pump which can then be used to pump water for irrigation. Solar dehydrators are another type of solar technology used in the agriculture industry. Solar drying equipment can dry crops faster and more evenly than leaving them in the field after harvest. Solar energy can help farmers reduce their costs and improve their efficiency and self-reliance. That is why many farmers around the world prefer to implement solar technologies on their farms. Solar farming is not only cost effective but also environment-friendly and reliable. Use of solar energy can also be helpful for reducing the drudgery of women farmers.

How do we achieve sustainable agriculture growth?

Published On: September 23, 2019 12:24 AM NPT By: Bhairab Raj Kaini

Nepal is a food deficit country, importing both cereals and high-value agriculture commodities due mainly to slow agricultural growth rates. The government’s commitment to check the country’s ever widening trade deficit by boosting farm production is difficult to achieve unless implementation is improved.

How to attract young people to farming?

Published On: September 15, 2019 01:00 AM NPT By: Bhairab Raj Kaini

Agriculture needs to be modernized and commercialized to ensure the country’s sustainable food security. This is only possible if we can attract young people to farming.  They bring energy, vitality, and innovation into the farming system.  They prefer to be engaged in high-tech, high-risk and high-returns agri-ventures like protected agriculture, precision farming, floriculture, poultry, and dairy. In the most adverse and risky situations, young people have extraordinary resilience and ability to cope. So they are an ideal catalyst to change the poor image of Nepali agriculture given  their greater possibility to adapt new ideas, concepts and technologies. According to the National Youth Policy 2015, youths are described those between the ages 16-40. Approximately 40 percent of the total population of Nepal falls under this category. This situation can serve as a demographic strength for Nepali agriculture.

Governing agriculture

Published On: August 28, 2019 01:00 AM NPT By: Bhairab Raj Kaini

We need to make agriculture governance system effective through the backup of strong organizational set-up and human resources

Restructuring agriculture project

Published On: August 8, 2019 01:30 AM NPT By: Bhairab Raj Kaini

While restructuring Prime Minister Agriculture Modernization Project, due consideration should be given in selecting an appropriate organization for its implementation

On plantation campaign

Published On: July 18, 2019 01:00 AM NPT By: Bhairab Raj Kaini

Fruit tree plantation is good and necessary initiative for Nepal but we cannot achieve it within a single year. We at least need three years

Think beyond planning

Published On: July 1, 2019 09:49 AM NPT By: Bhairab Raj Kaini

It is more than six decades since Nepal started planning process for development. In six decades, nine five-year plans and five three-year plans have been implemented. In case of agriculture, the first long term plan (Agriculture Perspective Plan) was implemented from 1995 to 2015 and the second one (Agriculture Development Strategy) is at its third year of implementation.

Erratic pattern

Published On: June 16, 2019 02:00 AM NPT By: Bhairab Raj Kaini

Agriculture in Nepal is suffering from years of under-investment, limited research, scant inputs and lack of technology and services for farmers

Failing on agro-trade

Published On: June 2, 2019 01:00 AM NPT By: Bhairab Raj Kaini

A key priority in Nepal’s effort to expanding agriculture exports should be improve quality of its products by developing standards in line with standards developed by international bodies

Road to commercialization

Published On: May 14, 2019 01:30 AM NPT By: Bhairab Raj Kaini

If Nepal is to speed-up agricultural commercialization process for both import substitution and export promotion, there is no better way than consolidation of farm lands

Farmers to entrepreneurs

Published On: May 2, 2019 01:00 AM NPT By: Bhairab Raj Kaini

Unless Nepali farmers become entrepreneurs, commercial agriculture will not be sustainable in Nepal

Post-summit challenges

Published On: April 16, 2019 01:05 AM NPT By: Bhairab Raj Kaini

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is an effective instrument for promoting sustainable development in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) like Nepal. Realizing this fact, the government of Nepal has organized three investment summits so far. First was in 1992 following the restoration of democracy. The investors attending the summit had pledged investment of approximately $100 million, but only around 25 percent of the pledged amount was realized.

Reducing food loss

Published On: April 2, 2019 01:00 AM NPT By: Bhairab Raj Kaini

Nepal lacks specific policy to address food loss. Most programs focus on boosting agricultural production and increasing farm productivity

Commission of inaction

Published On: February 27, 2019 01:00 AM NPT By: Bhairab Raj Kaini

Two years after National Farmers’ Commission started to work, people are asking why we need such commission when it cannot make necessary policy interventions

Making agriculture smart

Published On: February 3, 2019 01:00 AM NPT By: Bhairab Raj Kaini

If we are to make smart agriculture program successful, we first need to make our agriculture institutions smart

Raising the yield

Published On: January 10, 2019 01:00 AM NPT By: Bhairab Raj Kaini

Raising yields on existing farmland is the only way forward for high and sustainable agricultural growth