Origin of Cultivated Plants

There are many studies on Origin of cultivated plants, one of earliest being Origin of Cultivated Plants by Alphonse de Candolle, a Swiss botanist. Later N.I Viplov recognized eight centers of diversity of cultivated plants, with some originating in more than one center. Jack R Harlan later studied and concluded that some crops do not have center of origin and associated crop origin with regions. Six major regions of crop origin identified are as below.

1. 1.      Near-Eastern Region: Barley, wheat, garden pea, lentil, chickpea etc.
2. 2.      Chinese Region: Bamboo, Peach, Litchi, walnut, persimmon, ginger, gourds etc.
3. 3.      African Continent: Yam, Sorghum, okra, coffee, cotton etc.
4. 4.      South Asia and island: Eggplant, Mango, Banana, citrus, cardamom etc.
5. 5.      North America: Sunflower, Cranberry, Blueberry and Tobacco etc.
6. 6.      South and Central America:  Corn, peanut, white potato, cashew, pineapple, papaya etc.

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Feeding a Hungry World

 Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of United Nations estimates 40 countries have large amount of food insufficient for their population. This account almost 1 out of 7 billion of total population of world. In one part of the world excessive food and obesity is becoming a serious problem day by day, in other part (developing and least developed countries) people are dying out of hunger. In contrary to this, human population is growing and mouths to feed has increased, at the same time, land to grow is becoming limited. It comes with a challenging situation to plant science to develop high yielding and disease/pest resistant crops.

A series of improvement in plant sciences has been found. Since the beginning of civilization and domestication of agricultural practices, selection of crops for better traits and high productivity continued. This was noticed clearly after Mendel’s work in nineteenth century. By then, selection was the established method for improvement in crop breeding. A good example here comes from Corn (Zea mays), which is a modern crop introduced from years long selection process of Teosinte (Zea Mexicana). Now corn is totally dependent on humans for survival. Selection is still a prominent and effective method of crop improvement in plant breeding.

Early part of twenty century in United States was a productive era in plant breeding science. This led to development of high yielding varieties, which need higher doses of fertilizers, pesticides, mechanization and irrigation. Transformation for these technologies continued to developing countries over past 40 years, which led to higher productivity in agriculture production system. This achievement is known as Green Revolution.

Dr. Norman Borlaug led green revolution was possible due to development of high-yield varieties. Development and extension of dwarf strain of wheat in Mexico (by CYMMIT) and rice in Philippines (IRRI).  At the same time disease-resistant varieties of crops which are able to stand against many bacteria, fungi, viruses and nematodes were developed.  It was a breakthrough in agricultural science, the benefit of this spread away to Asia and Africa too. Countries like India, Pakistan and china were benefited largely by this.

Green revolution was not a miracle without high rate of input supply. Thus, there came some problems, mostly in developing countries. Critics blame green revolution as a costlier technique and environmentally not safe. More on this, genetic diversity of the plants are also eroded. As there needed high dose of pesticides and fertilizer, adequate irrigation and high mechanization, developing part of the world suffered from inadequacy. This lead to salinity in soil.

Solution to problem led by green revolution should start from the part of the world where population is very high. Development in improved irrigation system, organic fertilizers, biological control of pest and diseases may reduce the negative impact of green revolution by a large part.

Erosion of genetic diversity starts from monoculture practices. Monoculture is growing the same crop year after year in a large region. Not only crop, this has narrowed down to some selected varieties of crops only. For example, half of the wheat acreage in the United States is planted with just nine varieties of wheat.  Sustainable agriculture on other hand consist of mixture of annual and perennial crops, which can be harvested for a number of years without replanting.

As traditional varieties ( land races) are abandoned and replaced with modern , high yielding varieties and as habitat destruction brings about the extinction of wild relatives, valuable genetic heritage is lost forever, which is known as genetic erosion. This erosion can be reduced by gene or seed banks. In U.S. seed bank is located at National Centre for Genetic Resources Preservation in Fort Collins, Colorado under USDA in 1958. More than 500,000 seed samples representing 8,000 species are housed there.  Liquid nitrogen under at very low temperature is used as preservative. Heirloom varieties or traditional varieties are encouraged to cultivate for their preservation.

Germplasm is the encoded information of a plant, the genetic instructions that dictate not only the type of the plant but also all the traits unique to an individual plant. Germplasm is the center of an international controversy, the question of ownership.   In June 2004, the international Treaty of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture was enacted to protect valuable genetic resources. Ratified by 55 nations, the treaty defines plant genetic resources as “any genetic material of plant origin of actual or potential value for food and agriculture.”

FAO has identified some of the potential alternative crops. Alternative crops can be brought to the attention of global agriculture and can be diversify the world’s food sources. Quinoa is one of them, which is found in South America.  Grain amaranth is another new world crop under development for world market.   A South America legume called Tarwi has been taken in interest in recent days.  Similarly Tamarillo and naranjilla two relatives of tomatoes are also identified as good alternative to vegetables supply. Tamarillo is tree tomato. Oca is a tuber crop as of wheat potato, which is from Andes.

Biotechnology is use of living organism to provide products for humanity. Cell and tissue culture is one of the established biotechnology technique where whole plant is developed from a single cells. Small pieces of plant tissues are grown in a nutrient medium supplemented with plant hormones, after a few days, the cells begin dividing and produce a small, undifferentiated mass of tissue known as a callus.  Similarly molecular plant breeding technique uses marker assisted selection process for identification and incorporation of some special traits that are not identifiable through phenotype.

The genetic engineering, especially the recombinant DNA technology is a new and major changing technology in field of plant breeding.   While traditional methods of plant breeding allows the transfer of useful genes within a species or closely related species, genetic engineering  allows the transfer of useful genes from one organism to a totally unrelated plant species. Organism with foreign gene are called transgenic.  The development of transgenic plants begins with the identification and isolation of the useful trait containing gene and useful vector to transfer that. Use of Plasmids or gene gun shoot can be done for gene transfer.

Genetic engineering has two major traits developed in plants. First one is herbicide resistance.   Bacterial gene that confers resistance to the herbicide glyphosate has been introduced in many plants.  However there are lot of cases where farmers are against the developer of these kind of traits. In 2002, Monsanto a seed company which developed herbicide resistant wheat variety was objected by farmers. Country like Japan and South Korea objected those wheat crops containing herbicide resistant. Insect resistance is another trait that is developed in crops through genetic engineering. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) a common soil bacterium is used for insect resistance trait.

There is widespread adoption of Bt corn, as it is resistant to European corn borer. A study in 1990 at Cornell University charged the Bt corn for harming monarch butterfly population. There are subsequent studies, which proves that fining was not correct. However, this controversy is still there. The genetic engineered golden rice which contains Beta Carotene (converts into Vitamin A) is being developed as a new tool to eradicate malnutrition problem.  Later Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has funded for addition of vitamin E, more protein and enhanced iron and zinc availability in same rice variety.

There are many crops beyond staple food which are genetically engineered like soybean, alfalfa, tomato, and canola. New traits like disease resistance is being developed in genetically engineered crops.  Genetic engineering being used to produce rice plants resistant to a devastating disease called leaf blight, caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas oryzae.

The scope of biotechnology extends beyond food crops. One of the promising use is in pharmaceuticals to produce many vaccines and medicines. Also, since 1990s, there are a lot of ongoing greenhouse and field trials of GM trees in 16 countries. In 2010 USDA approved for eucalyptus tree.

There are many issues with GM crops. Issue on regulation is one of them. In 1992 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) developed a policy on GE crops, recommending that “developers consults with FDA about bio-engineering foods under development”.  If the FDA feels that GM variety is not safe for marketing comparing with other non GM food, by testing 120 days before that food is marketed, there would be ban on marketing. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) evaluates any possible effects on non-target organism. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) monitors the field crops that are genetically engineered.

Critics argue that GM crops are seriously affecting our environment, can harm human health and benefits only large agribusiness conglomerates. GM crops are questioned all over the world. Zambia refused US food aid in 2002 with fear of GM. European countries were more cautious, however, recent days they started to grow GM crops. There is concerns over transfer of herbicide resistant gees from GM crops to other related species. Also, natural development resistant in weeds are also questioned.  Use of terminator gene is also questioned seriously in developing nations, so that same seed cannot be planted and has to depend on seed companies year after year. So there is also blame for super insect development and killer weeds development having developed the resistance against GM. Though there are any issues against GM, the National Research Council in 2010 resealed a report saying on impact of GM crops in American farmers. The report has found economic and environmental benefits rather than harm.

In conclusion, there are questions against use of Biotechnology. However, biotechnology is found useful in many ways. It is  needed to feed the growing population which signifies there would be further development in biotechnology in days to come.

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Review of A book " Steve Jobs: Thinking Differently"- A Biography by Patricia Lakin

A college dropout but visionary inventor Steve p. Jobs (1955-2011) has given a lot to information technology sector globally. His seek to invent “insanely great” products has really made “dent on universe” as envisioned. Products like Mac computer, iPod, iPhone and iPad are today among millions of people worldwide. These revolutionary products are result of serious effort of Steve P. Jobs.

Steve was born in San Francisco, California from Joanne Scheible and adapted by Clara and Paul Jobs with promise to send him to college. Steve was inquisitive, energetic and imaginative. His first learning was more in his father’s garage than schools he attended. Steve meet a true friend sharing the same type of interest on electronics; Steve Wozniak. During high school period he was almost living a hippie style of life. He had no money even for food. He dropped for college study and joined calligraphy where he inspired toward Zen Buddhism by Robert Friedland. He went to India for seeking enlightenment through meditation. He wanted to meet guru Neem Karoli Baba. Once he could not find Neem Karoli Baba , he realized something different. He thought " maybe Thomas Edison did a lot more to improve the world than Karl Marx and Neem Karoli Baba put together". Then he decided to find his own guru.

In 1975 when he was 20 years, he started to work at Atari. He and Woz both had good exposure to computers and people working on those filed around california ( now popularly known as Silicon Valley).  He convinced Woz who was working in Hewlett-Packard (HP) Company as an engineer to establish their own company. They named it “Apple”. They needed funding, for which they added Ron Wayne as 10 % of shareholder who provided almost all the money needed to run a company. For this, they made a 45-45-10 % share agreement in April 1976.

They started work at Steve’s house (father’s garage), when they got order of 50 computer, that they made from scratch. The idea of complete computer with monitor, keyboard and mouse came to their mind after annual computer festival in New Jersey. While there were shortage of money for Apple II computer Mike Markkula was ready to fund with condition that Woz leave HP Job. Then Woz left HP and Markkula was their partner. Apple II was launched with a special program and the market started to grow continuously. By the age of 25, Steve had superstar status becoming a multimillionaire. New generation computer like Macintosh and Lisa (name from Job’s daughter) was ready for market in 1984. It was launched wonderfully linking it with a novel 1984. It left a Mac-Mania effect on public. With the start of 1985, market of Apple gone down. Steve started to be harsh to worker for hard work. However, this was not entertained by John Scully and others. So they be-seized Steve's managerial role. Steve resigned in September 17, 1985.

Steve was disappointed, aloof, not talking to anyone. But slowly, he started his new business with NeXT computer and Pixar Company. He sold all the Apple shares except 1 share, for money he needed for operating new company. After Steve left the Apple, their business also gone down. After 12 years of separation from Apple, a company that Steve jobs established and nurtured, he came back to Apple in June 1997 replacing Amelia with a special request from Apple management.

This time was golden era for Apple. To make competitive and emerging he invented iPod, iPhone, iPad. Later his Pixar Company also became popular on film industry. As a CEO he had just $1 as his salary. With invention of iPod , music industry became problematic and they went to court against Steve Jobs.  That’s why Apple establish iTunes and problem was solved. 

Jobs found to have cancer in Pancreases in 2004. He operated it in 2005, but could not cure. He died on October 5, 2011 at the age of fifty six. Whichever role he played, there is no question that Steve fulfilled his dream to put a dent in the universe.

Book Details:

Title of the Book: Steve Jobs: thinking differently

Category:  A biography

Author: Patricia Lakin

175 pp, $ 15.99 US / $ 18.99 CAN

aladdin

SIMON & SCHUSTER, NEW YORK

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स्कूटर किन असुरक्षित : मेरो अनुभव ।

म स्कूटर, मोटरसाईकल र मोटर तिनै चलाउछु । विशेषत नेपालमा मोटरहरु महंगा हुने तथा पर्किग र ट्राफिकका कारण समेत स्कूटर र मोटरसाईकल ज्यादा रुचाईन्छ । सहजताको हिसावमा मोटरभन्दा मोटरसाईकल र स्कूटरनै सहज भएपनि, मेरो अनुभवमा यि मध्येमा मोटर सवभन्दा सुरक्षित हो भने स्कूटर सवैभन्दा असुरक्षित ।

हिजो आज व्यक्तिगत सवारी साधनहरुमा नेपालमा पहिले भन्दा स्कूटरको अनुपात ज्यादै वढेको छ । यसो हुनुको पहिलो कारण सामाजिक हो जस्तो लाग्छ । विशेषत स्कूटर महिलाहरुले चलाउने र महिला समानता र शशक्तिकरणका कुराहरु घरभित्र र समाजमा पनि पहिलेको तुलनामा सुधार भएको कारण  महिलाहरुलाई सुविधा वढ्न गएको देखिन्छ । महिलाहरुमात्र नभई पुरुषहरुपनि स्कूटर प्रति आकर्षित छन्, किनकि स्कूटर मोटर साईकलको तुलनामा चलाउन सजिलो, सामान वोक्न सहज,सवै प्रकारका पोशाकमा समेत चलाउन मिल्न र  होचो छ ।  सुरक्षाको दृष्टिकोणमा भने मोटरसाईकल भन्दा पनि स्कूटर असुरक्षित छ । यसमा मेरो केहि अनुभवहरु छन, भलै ति वैज्ञानिक रुपमा कति सम्म प्रमाणित हुन मलाई थाहा छैन ।

१. स्कूटरमा खुट्टामा व्रेक हुदैन । दुर्घटना हुनुको प्रमुख कारणनै यहि हो जस्तो लाग्छ । जव मानिस कुनै असहज परिस्थिति महशुश गर्छ वा अतालिन्छ , रिफ्लेक्स एक्सन  (Reflex Action) को कारण शरिर अरोरो जस्तो हुन्छ । यसवाट एक प्रकारको शक्ति निस्कन्छ , जस्ले गर्दा खुट्टामा स्वतह शक्ति प्रभाह हुन्छ । यसकारण मोटरसाइकल चालकले थाहानभैकनै व्रेक दव्न पुग्छ र मोटर साईकल रोकिन्छ । यो सुविधा आधुनिक स्कूटरहरुमा छैन् । यस्को उल्टो रिफ्लेक्स एक्सनको कारण हातमा वल पर्नेहुदा एक्सलेटर आफु तिर जोडले घुम्छ र स्कूटर झन जोडले अगाडी हुक्तिन्छ । हातमा हुने यो प्रकृया मोटर साईकलमा पनि उस्तै हो तथापि खुट्टाको वे्रकको कारण यसको असर मोटरसाईकलमा हुदैन ।

२. स्कूटरमा क्लच (Clutch) हुदैन । क्लचको काम ईन्जिन र फ्युलको कनेक्सन छुटाउनु हो, जसकारण स्कूटरमा त्यो सुविधा रहन्न ।

३. स्कूटरको चक्का सानो हुदा, हाम्रो जस्तो खाल्डाखुल्डि भएको सडकमा अनियन्त्रित हुन्छ । पहिलो कारण जमिन संगको क्लिएरेन्स (Clearance) कम हुदा स्कूटरको वडि (Body)ले जमिन छोई अनियन्त्रित हुन्छ भने दोस्रो चक्काको सरकमफरेन्स (Circumference) सानो हुदा खाल्डामा पर्नासाथ होल्ड (Hold) भई लड्ने सम्भावना वढि हुन्छ ।

४. स्कूटर मोटरसाईकलको दाजोमा चिप्लने र लड्ने वढि हुन्छ । यो पनि सानो चक्का र वे्रककै कारण हो जस्तो लाग्छ । स्कुटमा एउटै व्रेकले कम्वाईन्ड ब्रेकिक सिस्टम (Combined Braking System)को आधारमा अगाडि र पछाडिको चक्का रोक्ने हो । कतिपय देशहरु जस्तै अमेरिकामा फ्रन्ट र रेयर व्रेक छुट्टै हुनै पर्ने कानुनि प्रावधाननै छ । यस्को कारण भनेको स्कूटरमा सेन्टर अफ ग्राभिटि (Centre of Gravity) वढि हुनु र पावर टु वेट रेशियो (Power to Weight Ratio)वढि हुदा एउटै वे्रकवाट स्कूटर रोक्न आवश्यक शक्ति अपुग हुन सक्छ भन्ने हो । मोमेन्टम थ्यौरी (Momentum Theory) र न्युटनको गति सम्वन्धि नियमलाई मान्ने हो भने आवश्यक शक्ति नपुगेमा वल प्रयोग गरिसक्दा पनि स्कूटर चालमै रहन प्रयत्न गर्छ । यहि कारण स्कूटर हुत्तिन्छ ।

५. स्कूटरमा गेर (Gear) हुदैन, तसर्थ मोटरसाईकलमा जस्तो ईन्जिनमा प्रेसर कन्ट्रोल हुन सक्दैन, यसकारण पनि स्कूटर चलाउदा व्यालेन्स विग्रने र वढता हुत्तिन हुन्छ ।

के गर्न सकिन्छ ?

१. फ्रन्ट र रेयर व्रेक छुट्टै भएका स्कूटर मात्र चलाउन दिने, जस्मा क्लच समेत हुन्छ ।

२. एक्सलेटर रोटेसन सिस्टमलाई अहिलेको भन्दा ठिक उल्टा गर्ने जस्ले गर्दा मानिस अतालिदा जव एक्सलेटर आफुतिर तानिन्छ, त्यो वेला गति कम भई स्कूटर वा मोटरसाईकल रोकियोस ।

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कम्पन पछिको कृषि क्षेत्र ( Agriculture Sector After Earthquake in Nepal)

Link to Karobar National Daily
Link to KrishiOnline

भुकम्प गए पछि, हाम्रो पहिलो नजर मृतक र घाईते मानिसहरुमा गयो, त्यसपछि क्रमशः वासस्थान र खाद्यान्नमा । अहिले हामी वासस्थान र खाद्यान्नको कुरा गर्दै छौ । यसपछिका समयमा रोजगारी र जिविकोपार्जनका अन्य विकल्पहरुमा वहस होला । 

धेरै ठाउमा अझै आवश्यकता अनुरुपको राहत सामाग्रिहरु पुराउन नसकिनुले हाम्रो कमजोर अर्थतन्त्र त देखाउछनै, त्यो भन्दा वढता हाम्रो व्यवस्थापनमा देखिएको कमजोरी । साथसाथै, विश्लेषकहरु ठूलो अर्थतन्त्र भएका मित्रराष्ट्रहरुसंग पनि सम्वन्ध समधुर हुननसकेको र त्यसको फाईदा लिन नसकेको जिकिर गर्दैछन । यि यावत कुराहरुले हामी समस्यामा गुज्रदै छौ र अझै जटिल परिस्थिति सृजना हुदैछ भन्ने कुराको संकेत गर्दै छ । अव के हुन्छ त, कसरी सम्य गर्ने यो वज्रपातलाइरु स्पष्ट छ, एकमात्र विकल्प, कृषि क्षेत्र ।

सरकारी आकडालाईनै मान्ने हो भने करिव १ लाख ३५ हजार मेट्रिक टन खाद्यान्न नष्ट भयो, १७ हजार ठूला पशु (गाईभैसी ), ४० हजार साना पशु (भेडां, वाख्रा,वंगुर ) तथा ५ लाख पन्छि (कुखुरा, हास )हरुको मृत्यु भयो र हजारौ पशुपन्छि घाईते छन । प्रत्यक्ष रुपमा राष्ट्रिय उत्पादनसंग तुलना गर्दा खाद्यान्न करिव १ दशमलव ५ प्रतिशत ,०.१४ प्रतिशत ठूला पशु, ०.३४ प्रतिशत साना पशु तथा १.०२ प्रतिशत पन्छिहरु नष्ट भएको देखिन्छ । तथापि, यसको मल्टिप्लाएर असरको गणना समावेश नहुनु तथा मानिसहरुको जिविकोपार्जनको मुख्य स्रोतनै कृषि भएकोले अंकगणितिय हिसाव भन्दा ठूलो नोक्सानि हुनपुगेको स्पष्ट हुन्छ । 

अति प्रभावित १४ जिल्लाहरु – दोलखा, सिन्धुपाल्चोक, रसुवा, नुवाकोट, काभ्रे, धादिंग, गोर्खा, मकवानपुर, काठमाण्डौं, भक्तपुर, ललितपुर, सिन्धुलि, रामेछाप र ओखलढुंगाको कृषि क्षेत्रको मुल्यांकनगर्दा हाम्रो समग्र अन्नवालीको उत्पादनमा करिव १३ प्रतिशतको हिस्सा यि जिल्लाहरुले ओगटछ । तर, मकै(२४ प्रतिशत), कोदो (३० प्रतिशत) र फापर (२१ प्रतिशत) जस्ता अन्नवालीहरु भने यो क्षेत्रमा उल्लेख्य मात्रामा उत्पादन हुने गरेको छ । यसै गरी आलु, तरकारी, फलफूल, दुध, मासु र अण्डा उत्पादनमा समेत यस क्षेत्रले उल्लेख्य हिस्सा ओगटेको देखिन्छ । 

जसरी विभिन्न वौद्धिक छलफलमा भूकम्प अति प्रभावित क्षेत्रमा कृषिले त्यति महत्व राख्दैन भनेर वहस गरिदैछ, त्यो सत्य होईन । उक्त क्षेत्रको कृषिवाट समग्र कृषि क्षेत्रमा प्रभाव वारे यस पक्तिकारले हिसावगर्दा करिव २० प्रतिशत कृषि क्षेत्रको ग्राहस्थ उत्पादन तथा करिव ७ प्रतिशत राष्ट्रिय ग्राहस्थ उत्पादनमा उक्त जिल्लाहरुको कृषि उत्पादनले हिस्सा ओगटने देखियो ।  यि सुचांकभन्दा महत्व, उक्त क्षेत्रका ७५ प्रतिशतभन्दा वढि घरधुरीको आम्दानिको मुख्य स्रोत कृषि हो भन्ने कुराले राख्छ । तसर्थ, कृषिले मानिसको पेट भर्ने मात्र होईन रोजगारी र आम्दानी पनि दिन्छ भन्ने कुरा वझ्नु जरुरी छ ।

मनोवैज्ञानिक हिसावले पनि कृषि कर्म अहिलेको दुख भुलाउने वाटो हुन सक्छ । किसानहरुले आफ्नो खेतवारीमा फस्टाउदै गरेका वालीनाली तथा हुर्कदै गरेका गोठखोरका पशुवस्तु देखेर मन भुलाउन सक्छन । यसले के प्रष्ट हुन्छ भने कृषि मात्र त्यस्तो मुलमन्त्रहो जस्ले भुकम्पवाट सृजित असहज परिस्थितिमा सहजता ल्याउन सक्छ । तर सजकता आवश्यक छ । अवको कृषि विकास पृथक कार्यशैलिमा वढनु जरुरी छ । पहिलेकै ढर्रामा अघिवढनु सम्भवनै छैन ।

भुकम्पलाई कृषि क्षेत्रको अवसरमा वदल्ने अनेकन उपाएहरु छन । यहा उल्लेख गर्न लागिएका वुदाहरु कुनै नया र आविश्कारिक जुक्तिहरु होईनन, फरक यति मात्र हो, कार्य क्षेत्रको प्राथमिकिकरण गरी केवल तिनै क्षेत्रमामात्र लगानी केन्द्रिकृत गर्ने  साहास गर्नु पर्छ । अर्को महत्वपूर्ण कुरा यो वेला दशौ पृष्ट लामो कृषि सुधारका विषयहरु उठान गर्न समेत उपयुक्त समय होईन । स्मरण रहोस यि उपायहरु वस्तुतः मध्यम देखि लामो अवधिसम्म कार्यन्वयन गर्नुपर्ने विषयहरु छन ।

विशेष कृषि क्षेत्र घोषणा ः भुकम्पले प्रभावित गरेको क्षेत्रमा, स्थानिय निकाय तथा व्यक्तिहरुको सहयोगमा वढिमा ५ कृषि उपजलाई (वाली तथा पशुपन्छि) प्राथमिक क्षेत्र घोषणा गरी सम्पूर्ण लगानी उक्तm उपजहरुको निम्ति हुनु पर्छ । उक्त क्षेत्र भनेको ईलाका तहको हुदा उपयुक्त देखिन्छ, जस्ले गर्दा लगानीकर्तालाई सहजहुने र छोटो समयमा प्रतिफल प्राप्त गर्न सकिने देखिन्छ । यसको निम्ति सरकारी, गैह्रसरकारी तथा व्यक्तिगत, सम्पूर्ण लगानीमा समायोजनकारी भूमिका स्थानिय सरकार ( जिल्ला तह) मा हुन पर्दछ । यदि कुनै व्यक्तिगत वा संस्थागत लगानि ठूलो क्षेत्रको निम्ति अपूग छ भने , निर्धारित कार्यक्रमको वजेट भित्र जति क्षेत्रलाई समेटन सक्छ, त्यतिमात्र क्षेत्रमा कार्य गर्न दिनुपर्छ ।

आधुनिकिकरणकोे अवशर ः महाविपक्तिलाई अवसरको रुपमा भित्राउन यो समय प्राविधिक विकासमा जोड दिनु महत्वपूर्ण कार्य हो । युवा शक्ति पलायनले अभाव भएको कृषि मजदुरहरुको पृष्ठभूमिमा प्रविधिमा फड्को मार्नु अनिवार्य छ । सरकार वा दातृ निकायहरुवाट प्राप्त हुने रकम आधुनिक कृषिमा लगाउदै केहि अत्यन्त आवश्यक कुराहरु जस्तै उन्नत वीउ, उन्नत पशु प्रजनन, आधुनिक यन्त्रहरुको प्रयोग आदिमा खर्च गर्नु पर्छ । हाम्रो कार्यक्रम हलो किन्ने भन्दा हाते ट्रयाक्टर किन्नेमा हुनुपर्छ, छाप्रा भन्दा आधुनिक गोठ वनाउनेमा हुनु पर्छ, दाना वनाउने औजार, धान रोप्ने,गोडने र काटने यन्त्र, गहु चुट्ने यन्त्र,मकै छोडाउने औजार, आधुनिक मौरि घार, उन्नत च्याउ उत्पादन, प्लास्टिक घरमा तरकारी, भिरालो जमिनमा फलफूल, पशु नश्ल सुधार आदि जस्ता प्रभावकारी प्रविधिमा हुनु पर्छ । लगानिकर्ताहरुवाट आउने रकमलाई यिनै क्षेत्रमा यकत्रित गर्नसकेमात्र तिव्र कृषि विकास सम्भव हुन्छ ।

वजार व्यवस्थापनको अवशर ः हालसम्म अस्थव्यस्थ र हचुवामा चलिरहेको कृषि वजारिकरणमा सुधार अवको प्राथमिकतामा हुनु पर्छ । व्यवस्थित वजार निर्माण, कृषि उपजहरुको उत्कृष्ट भण्डारण, आधुनिक चिस्यानकेन्द्रहरु र प्रशोधनकेन्द्रहरु आदिको व्यवस्था हुनसके कृषि क्षेत्रले छोटै समयमा कोल्टे फेर्ने छ । साना टहरा वनाएर कृषि वजार र संकलन केन्द्रको संज्ञा दिनुभन्दा उत्कृष्ट भण्डारण र विक्रिकेन्द्र सहितको वजार स्थापना गर्नुपर्छ । उपभोग्य वस्तुहरुको उत्पादक देखि उपभोक्ता सम्म पुराउदा लाग्ने चरणहरु आधुनिक साथसाथै फाईदाजनक हुन सकेमात्र किसानहरुमा कृषि प्रति दिगो आर्कषण हुनेछ ।

भू उपयोग सुधारको अवशर ः भुकम्पले सिकाएको एउटा राम्रो पाठ सवै प्रकारका जमिन सवै प्रयोजनलाई हुन सक्दैन भन्ने हो । यसले भू उपयोगमा जमिनको प्रकृति र वनौट हेरी कुन ठाउ केको लागि उपयुक्त हो भन्ने आधारमा सोहि अनुरुपको कार्य गर्न जरुरी छ । मुख्यतयः नदि तथा खोलाहरुले वनाएका मलिलो माटो भएको क्षेत्रहरुमा वस्तिविकास गर्नुभन्दा कृषि कर्म गर्नु उपयुक्त हुने कुरा प्रमाणित भएको छ ।पहिरोले पुरिएको कृषि क्षेत्रहरुमा जमिनको प्रकृतिहेरी कृषिवन विकासको अवधारणा अघि वढाउन सकिन्छ ।

माथिका वुदाहरु राखिरहदा, स्थानिय व्यक्तिहरु र निकायहरुको अनुभव तथा मागहरु ख्याल गर्न अत्यन्तै जरुरी छ । सहज र छोटो सरकारी प्रकृया र ईमान्दारीपूर्ण कार्य शैलीलेमात्र कृषि विकास हुने कुरामा कसैको फरक मत नहोला ।

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Production Trend of Major Cereals in Nepal

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Earthquake Most Affected Districts of Nepal

Map of the 14 Districts most affected by 7.8 Magnitude earthquake in 25 April ,2015 ( Gorkha Epicenter) and it's aftershocks (including 12 May of 7.3 Magnitude).

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Soil Types of Nepal

Agriculture Scientist and development worker (even some peasant leader)  are making loud voices for soil health, some by natural and some after political agenda put forth by Indian Primeminister Narendra Modi during his visit in Nepal. Before that, I believe, knowing soil type has meaningful importance. Soil classification of Nepal by FAO and UNESCO ,1974, thus may have value to anyone planning for agricultural development (production planning) in Nepal. I happen to find it in an atlas at Book Fair at Kathmandu . As most of the maps were not important to me, I snapped these pictures taking permission from the seller. I hope it would be useful and important to interested.

" KNOW YOUR SOIL, BEFORE YOU PLANT"

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Nepal's agribusiness and agro-entrepreneurship policy

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Dominance of like Minded Policy

Policy and plans are foundation of development. No stones should be upturned while developing and implementing those. Nevertheless, these are outcome of very few consultations and are garden variety of like minded bunches of people.  This has created many flaws in our policy and credibility of policy making process has severely questioned. Agriculture also is not an exception.

We are receptive. Yes, we should, to gain a level which we are dreaming since many years. Does it means we should be yes man, Off-course not. I mean to say yes man because we are early adopter of everything, we become member of multinational organisation very hastily, we sign on petition even without knowing the meaning and we commit to institutionalize new global and national policies without any preparatory works. This has generated many hindrances in progress. This has taken our arduous effort just to sustain what we have rather than improve on ground reality.

Why like minded are dominating our policy process. This is result of fear among the policy makers. Somebody if is iconoclastic will not be given chance to discuss, work and formulate new policies.  If people of same background, same ideology and similar type of working nature sit together for invention, there would be easy, faster but useless and uncritical output. This is exactly, what is happening in policy formulation.

Unless, we can't respect and welcome those who raise questions, we can't progress. This has to be understood clearly. This is first step toward development in any sector, including agriculture.

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