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When we were awarded the Mondialogo Engineering Award in Germany during our engineering course at Pulchok Engineering Campus, we visited villages to implement our project linking agricultural modernisation with information technology. We were excited Mahabir Pun would be helping us.
Before we implemented the project, we felt the modernisation of Nepali agriculture could significantly contribute to the rural economy. But we did not meet any young people interested in taking up agriculture. There were a few places where youth were involved but they did not know much about farming. Agriculture was considered more of a 'time-pass' than a commercially viable venture. Government programs haven't been fruitful; farmers haven't received new training. Most Nepalis are still involved in agriculture but how can we say we are agriculture-based when most depend on remittances?
We met agriculture experts in all the district headquarters but their capabilities were not reflected in the status of agriculture in the villages. If we are to take information technology as the basis of human development in the 21st century, we must make information accessible in our villages. Keeping this in mind, we implemented a pilot program on E-farming in Gulmi district.