Two third of Nepal's population depends on agriculture but struggles to produce adequate food for its people and imports around NPR 200 billion worth of food products each year. Inefficient production practices mainly because of lack of technologies resulting into negative margin for majority of the producers. Many farmers, particularly the young farmers are interested to adapt new technologies to reduce drudgery and production cost, to enhance input-use-efficiency and to generate more profit. In addition, due to a higher rate of male out-migration, we should be focused on a series of technology focused programs and projects. Some already tested and proven technologies for examples use of genomic selection to enhance plant and livestock productivity, use of remote sensing data to uniform distribution of fertilizers and other farm chemicals, use of sexed semen to produce female calves for higher milk production, precision nutrient and water management technologies, use of scale-appropriate mechanization, disease resistance varieties of plant and animal species are common practices in developed world. As many of these technologies are already tested and proven elsewhere, a small investment and optimization to custom in Nepalese context can bring a big return to Nepalese agriculture. For export, Nepal has a huge potential to produce premium and organic agri-products along with some optimized indigenous technology to export in international markets. New technology, market and risk management need to go together for better results. Government led risk management programs in big sectors like cereals, poultry, dairy and other commercial enterprises would greatly help in increasing efficiency of the sector and encourage new investments. There is also substantial outreach and investment required to smallholder subsistence farms for certifying the premium and organic products. However, the adoption of technologies generated in other countries have potential social, economic, human, animal, and ecosystem health impacts and slow adoption. Nevertheless, through training, investments and mobilization in technology uptake and commercialization may overcome these shortcomings. In conclusion, Nepal can adopt technologies and best practices from around the world to reduce food import while it can also export premium agri-products in international markets.

1. Technology transfer and utilization to
increase productivity of Nepalese
agriculture through use of worldwide
available best technologies
Dr. Purna Kandel, CEO, Liam BioChem International, Canada
with Collaboration of
Dr. Santosh Poudel, Ministry of Agriculture, Saskatchewan, Canada
Dr. Tek Sapkota, CYMMIT, New Delhi, India
Dr. Krishna KC, Ms. Rachana Devkota, Dr. Tanka Khanal and Dr. Laxmi Pant,
University of Guelph, Canada
Dr. Hom Gartaula, University ofWinnipeg, Canada
with contribution from Dr. KaliDas Subedi, Mr. Bal Chandra Shrestha and Dr. Nityannada Khanal

2. Food Import in Nepal
• Two third of Nepal's population depends on agriculture
• Nepal struggles to produce adequate food for its people
• Imports around NPR 200 billion worth of food products
each year
• Major imports are cereals, pulses, oil, vegetables, dairy
and meat.

3. Production problems
• Inefficient production practices mainly because of lack of
technologies resulting into negative margin for majority
of the producers
• Comparatively less investment

4. Production perspectives
• Many farmers, particularly the young farmers are
interested to adapt new technologies
• To reduce drudgery and production cost
• To enhance input-use-efficiency
• To generate more profit
• Due to a higher rate of male out-migration, we should
be focused on a series of technology focused programs
and projects

5. Export of Nepalese Products
• A potential to produce premium and organic agri-
products
• Natural food products

6. Tested and Proven Technology
• Genomic selection to enhance plant and livestock
productivity
• Use of remote sensing data to uniform distribution of
fertilizers and other farm chemicals
• Use of sexed semen to produce female calves for higher
milk production
• Precision nutrient and water management technologies
• Use of scale-appropriate mechanization
• Disease resistance varieties of plant and animal species
• Food inspection system

7. Genomic selection in plant and livestock
• Genomic selection to enhance plant and livestock productivity
• For example to increase protein in rice, breast meat in poultry, oil
content in soybean
• Virtually all traits

8. Use of remote sensing data
• For uniform distribution of fertilizers and other farm chemicals
• Measurement of soil moisture, nutrients

9. Sexed semen to produce female calves
• Sexed semen to produce female only calves for higher milk
production

10. Disease resistant varieties of plant and animal
breeds
• Less diseases and good health
• Low antibiotics and pesticides
• Quality products

11. Use of scale-appropriate mechanization
• Mechanization for labor shortage
• Uniform and food safety

12. Precision nutrient and water management
technologies in crop and livestock
• Less resources required
• Best use of nutrients

13. Food inspection system
• Food Safety
• Improved Human health

14. Technology transfer and adoption
• Many of these technologies are already tested and
proven
• A relatively small investment and optimization to custom
in Nepalese context can bring a big return to Nepalese
agriculture
• Substantial outreach and investment required to
smallholder subsistence farms for certifying the premium
and organic products

15. Some considerations
• New technology, market and risk management need to
go together for better results
• Government led risk management programs in
commercial sectors like cereals, poultry, dairy would
greatly help in increasing efficiency of the sector and
encourage new investments.

16. Limitations
• The adoption of technologies generated in other
countries may have potential social, economic, human,
animal, and ecosystem health impacts
• One size doesn’t fit all and only few farmers can use
• Training, investments and commercialization in
technology uptake and may overcome shortcomings

17. Conclusion
• Nepal can adopt technologies and best practices from
around the world to reduce food import
• Nepal can also export premium agri and natural
products to international markets.

18. Thank you
• Any Questions
Contact
Dr. Purna Kandel
Liam BioChem International,Toronto, Canada
Phone +1 647 807 1988
Email: purna.kandel@liambiochem.com
Nepal contact: Kupondol, Lalitpur
+977 98670 53740