Renewable energy for development of agriculture

Experts of agriculture sector have underlined the need for mechanization and commercialization of the agriculture sector and paying attention to good storage facility and marketing to enhance production of the agro-based products.

In a webinar organized today by the Nepal Renewable Energy Confederation of Nepal (RECON), the participants also opined that we could yield abundantly from agriculture provided we consider factors of equipping human resources with skills development and devise hassle-free procedures 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 to produce manure, 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 to achieve bumper yield.

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 PV, solar thermal among others technologies that were easily available in the rural sectors, 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 as people.

Youth entrepreneur duo Kushal Gurung and Abhisekh Malla presented a paper about the solar powered irrigation facilities and its usage and its prospects in the agricultural country like Nepal.

In the virtual seminar chaired by RECON’s President Gunaraj Dhakal, participants included 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 Nepal’s Association’s Indra Khanal who illustrated on the advantages of renewable energy in agriculture sector.

Source: National News Agency Nepal

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