Agriculture is considered as the backbone for the development of nation without which the progress and stability cannot be achieved. Nepal is a country with diversified topography , landforms , biodiversity and  unique ecological entities . The majority of Nepalese human resources are involved in agriculture. Agriculture in Nepal has long been based on subsistence farming  , particularly in hilly regions where peasants derive their living from fragmented plots of land cultivated in difficult land situations resulting in widespread underemployment and poor use of resources  which confronts  multiple risk and uncertainty . The contributions of agriculture in national GDP is 27.04% in 2018. Presently, major portion of National GDP is contributed by remittance in Nepal instead of its renown as an agricultural country . Has the agriculture lost its relevancy ?

            Some of the pull factors which are becoming the hindrances for the Nepalese Agriculture development and  the reason for low  GDP are prevalence of traditional and subsistence farming , undulated land topography , climatic variations , irregular rainfall , shifting of most of the population from agricultural works to non-agricultural works , lack of mechanization and improved technology in agriculture , lack of feasible government policies and strategies , lack of ample human resources , poor economic condition of Nepalese people , lack of research and extension activities , natural hazards , etc . Nepalese agriculture is facing multifaceted problems . Despite the problems , our major concern  is still agriculture but due to decades of negligence , the productivity has dwindled .Involvement in traditional and  subsistence farming  along with the use of traditional tools for farming contribute to insufficient production due to which Nepalese people are suffering from hunger , inadequate nutritious food , low standard of living , difficulty in running their daily basis activities .  Along with this , it is leading to the rapid decrease in the pace of development . Rampant urbanization and housing in the land that was formerly used for cultivation along with drain of youths to other countries leading to decrease in the labor force for agriculture emerges as the major causes for the decrease in the area of land used for cultivation . The factors being hurdled for Nepalese Agriculture should be taken up immediately into major concern and should be isolated deep from its  grass-root level which will ensures the clear path for further development .
            In order to harness the production potentials of Nepal  , mechanization and use of latest improved technology , youth involvement in agriculture , entrepreneurship ,accessible market areas, transformation to commercial farming from subsistence farming , research and extension activities  can be some viable options . Ill farming practices and use of poor agricultural inputs should be eliminated . Inappropriate timing , methods and malpractices in the use of available modern technology directly impact on soil fertility status and finally on production . Innovation in the field of agriculture should be prioritized which will faster and accelerates the growth of Nepal’s  agro-processing sector thereby helping to commercialize the agriculture production , increases agricultural incomes and reduces poverty . Along with the exploitation of hand power , it is the time to use the head i.e brain storming power  mostly in this phase . Improvement in the residing cultural and farming practices and integration along with modern aspects of technology should be promoted . Youths which are the foundation of the nation should use their brain capacity for promoting agriculture through their extreme innovation power which will develop and expand the business incubation in Nepal . Most of the agricultural land which is cultivable are fallow , so these land should be used for agriculture practices by improving their undulated structure . It is very necessary to have market driven production .  New inventions and ideas will provide the long term vision and better ways for continuing the same process and thus lead to sustainability and profitability from the agriculture as a whole . Innovation of new feasible and advanced  farming tools and equipments according to geographical location , provision for the cultivation of crops according to their climate and environment conditions , introduction of high yielding along with high input responsive varieties , innovation of the methods for conserving rain water for irrigation provision ,use of organic manures instead of chemical fertilizers,  prevention from extreme natural hazards , conventional farming practices including zero tillage, minimum tillage ,drip irrigation system,  etc. can enhance the production. Along with that , active involvement of human resource in the field of research , study , extension and entrepreneurship should be promoted . Innovation will strive to have catalytic effect , encouraging a new generation of entrepreneur to enter , grow and advance of the industry . Entrepreneurship consisting of such  entrepreneurs who are able to recognize the commercial potential of the invention and organize the capital , talent , ideas and other resources that turn an invention into a commercially viable innovation should be uplifted . It captures innovative ideas on the part of established firms .  Better provision of loan at lower rate, provision of required inputs , knowledge , technology , infrastructure development , proper incentives , insurance facilities, market accessibilities are found to be beneficial to lure the new entrepreneurs through which the entrepreneurship can be carried out to next level . Involvement in the location specific  research activities , finding of the research should be  studied and interpreted carefully which should be extended further to the farmer’s level . Providing these entrepreneurs with a holistic service offering that accelerates their growth and increases their sustainability is necessary .Thus , entrepreneurship will engage all stakeholders with value chain ,thus strengthening the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem affecting the growth and startup of innovative agribusiness enterprise . After successful production of agricultural commodity , it should be subjected to national as well as international market  with remunerative prices which will fulfill the national needs and withdraw the foreign income to raise the GDP of Nepal . Availability and accessibility of markets along with proper transportation , storage and processing facilities should be confirmed too . It is necessary to go for confederation of all districts with representation of farmers need with a mandate to formulate policies for combined and parallel development of  agriculture. This should be supplemented by regular brainstorming for realistic agriculture planning. Sustainability is a broad discipline , giving people insights in most of the human world from business technology to environment . Balance between the security , availability and accessibility is somehow sustainability to some extent . The ultimate goal of agriculture development is its sustainability whose main aspect is its basic infrastructures. So , our plan and strategy should be based on building up the basic infrastructures coupled with innovation , research and extension along with entrepreneurship . Government policies , strategies , laws , budget , planning should be focused on behalf of sustainable agriculture .
                   To sum up , agriculture development is the foundation for food security and sustainable economic development of Nepal because it is the major source of income and employment for most of the Nepalese people . For , bringing the pliancy in commercial agriculture and to involve in global trade market , it should be assisted with technical , economical, managerial and encouraging approaches from local to national and from national to international level . So , sustaining approach to take the innovation , entrepreneurship , youths involvement and sustainability together is crucial to embrace the benefits from the  Nepalese agriculture which will promote food security , zero hunger and further improve the living standard of Nepalese people .  
              
       

Prem Kunwar
B.Sc.Ag 3rd Semester 
Agriculture and Forestry University 
Rampur , Chitwan