July 1: Agriculture experts have underlined the need for mechanization and commercialization of the agriculture sector in addition to good storage facility and marketing to enhance production of the agro-based products.
In a webinar organized by the Nepal Renewable Energy Confederation of Nepal (RECON) on Wednesday (June 30), the participants opined that the country could yield abundantly from agriculture provided that the human resources are given with skills development training and there is hassle-free procedure for the farmers to obtain grant and loan.
They also opined that agro-production could be augmented considering usage of organic manure, reusing kitchen waste, solar-powered irrigation facilities (renewable energy) in those places lacking regular irrigation facilities among others.
Former Minister Ganesh Shah said that technology and equipment should be provided to farmers in a subsidized rate and farmers’ capacity should be enhanced for good harvest.
For processing, drying and storing agriculture products, one should prioritize usage of renewable energy such as micro hydro plants, solar energy mini grid, wind energy, solar thermal among other technologies that are easily available in the rural areas, said Shah.
Likewise, Alternative Energy Promotion Centre’s executive director Madhusudan Adhikari highlighted the need to hold high-level discussions and dialogue for optimizing renewable energy technology and benefiting as many people as possible.
Youth entrepreneur duo Kushal Gurung and Abhisekh Malla presented a paper about solar-powered irrigation facilities and their usage and prospects in the agricultural country like Nepal.
The virtual seminar chaired by RECON’s President Gunaraj Dhakal was attended by agriculture expert Dr Sudha Sapkota, energy expert Dr Indira Shakya, Kathmandu University (KU)’s Assistant Profession Dr Sunil Lohani, Nepal Biogas Promotion Association’s President Prakash Chandra Subedi and Solar Electric Manufacturers Association Indra Khanal. -- RSS
