Agro at Remote Nepal is closely associated with the holistic approach for helping and empowering the community by understanding physical, socio-cultural and economical aspects and has a wide scope for volunteers who are ready to work and explore in the remote areas of Nepal. The program is carried out in rural settings, especially where agriculture is only the way out for generating income sources.
The program centralizes an idea for transforming existing agricultural practices and underpinning the mindset of youths for contributing in the agricultural sector and generally, focused on the Peasants who are engaged in farmings and not being able to generate significant income sources which back-pedal livelihood based on subsistence farming.
The topography of Nepal complements and is blessed with diversified vegetation, climatic conditions and suitable geographical features; An inclined slope, terrace field and perpetual flowing water from high altitude to lower region contributes to the alluvial deposits possessing Nutrients and minerals making land fertile and suitable for organic farming but the irony is there is no workforce.
Our program generates an opportunity to assist farmers and volunteers to help them hand in hand. You need to understand that Agriculture in Nepal is basically labour-intensive and deeply connected with societal beliefs and commemorates the innately attached task of antiquity. you will get a chance to support farmers for gaining economy by helping them in ploughing, seeding, weeding, harvesting and also transform traditional practices of agriculture which only contributes for subsistence livelihood you can educate and orient innovative farming techniques, integrated farming practices and introduce more scientific ways for maximum yields. Volunteers also need to understand that agriculture is not only a profession but a way of living in Nepal so be mindful while introducing new technologies and ideas. This opportunity is perfect for those volunteers who aim to explore, study and investigate upon the community, its formation and indigenous practices of Agro-livelihood in Nepal.
Responsibility
Nepal is predominantly an agrarian country since time immemorial and Agriculture still provides a significant portion in the country’s GDP and employment opportunities. An agricultural sector is an employment-intensive sector in Nepal, GON and different stakeholders are concerned about the problem affiliated and scrutinized with the agriculture sector. This is a crucial time where youths are inclined for foreign country migration and mostly, fascinated to labor employment in foreign countries leaving behind abandoned agricultural fields and an older population in their home country. The complication in the Agriculture sector arises with the vicious circle of poverty, illiteracy, disguised and seasonal unemployment, orthodox beliefs, traditional technology and many more. The challenges prevail mainly in unstable market demands, investments, Rigidity with changing environment and technology.
The main responsibility of a volunteer is to diagnose and understand the deep-rooted problem initially and getting connected with the current scenario. You can get involved in skill development training programs, Assist farmers in the field and one should prepare fully to work in a dynamic and extremely new environment. This program is also designed to preserve the traditional practices, it might be contradictory to say that traditional practices result into low productivity but as you start working with farmers you will get to experience importance of indigenous farming practices. It would be helpful if volunteers have previous agro-based skills or knowledge, the acquired skills and knowledge might be helpful for farmers in order to find substantial gaps leading to less productivity.
You will arrive in Kathmandu, our staff will receive you from TIA and transferred to respective hotels in Kathmandu.
The orientation program includes different sessions and might be for 2 days along with a well balanced tour in Kathmandu city.
Different organization Visits in and around Kathmandu city helps you to understand the current practices of agriculture in the country, it also enables to generate an idea for the specific program. Basically, Gos, Ngos and other concerned authorities of Agriculture sectors will provide basic layout of existing scenarios.
We will Depart early in the morning for the village and reach the rural community. You will be introduced with some local farmers and agriculture experts the same day.
This program intervene grassroot community problem and design in a way to address the problem in more detailed manner. An activity undergoes the identification of problems, rigorous discussions and Interviews with experts and ultimately a series of activities in the field. Our primary aim is to promote green economy by extension and expansion of market, Intensive use of modern technologies while promoting the idegenous practices . You will be closely working with the Local farmers for 3 weeks to 3 months according to identified needs and Yours preferences.
The activities and impacts that you left on the field is measured and after a long stay in the community it’s time to say see you again to farmers, The locals will arrange a farewell program in a traditional way.
volunteers will be heading back to kathmandu and transferred to respective hotels.
First Day: On your first day of volunteering, our staff will introduce you with the local community leader who will be briefing and helping you during your entire stay in the village.
Weekdays: While a volunteer’s daily schedule will vary depending on the specific program, a typical day is as follows:
Note: The day to day schedule is subjected to change according to field placement and local needs.
Supporting Community by Agro- economy is an integrated program for current tourism practice and Agriculture together which consequently brings positive change in community. An agriculture sector contributes ⅓ rd percent for countries Gdp and is associated with 68% population of the country yet there prevails significant gaps in terms of generating income and development of the Agro-community.
Agriculture practice in Nepal is quite traditional and also attached with the culture. one needs to understand that Agriculture is based on community organization and practices. Every major festival in Nepal is associated with agriculture however there are diversified ethnic groups and people associated with them who have their own ideas of Agriculture and indegenous practices. The perception of adapting a whole new idea of modern technology seems to be very identical but the subtle understanding is essential to identify the difference. People are deeply connected with such practices and they are rigid to change but there is numerous scientific evidence that indegenous practices are also equally scientific approaches for maximum yields. It’s just the modern technologies that might be unfamiliar and unsuitable to the existing challenges in Nepal. Indegenous practices promote solidarity, unity and perseverance of culture, nature but not necessarily helps to increase production and productivity.
The climatic condition and different vegetation are deeply interrelated and depend on seasonal factors. We design programs based on the season which might be as long as 3 weeks to 3 months.
The preparation begins with the commitment to work in an extremely new environment . We have been focusing that previous skills or agro-based ideas will be beneficial but not necessary completely. You can just explore ideas and practices of agriculture in your home country and come up with new techniques and ideas while designing programs. The program is completely based on labor and hand works like ploughing, harvesting, seeding so one might have sound health to undertake in a harsh environment.
The orientation program is basically helpful for every traveler, basically orientation program focuses for every individual i.e academician, researchers,Volunteers, travellers, visitors and professionals We take consensus of experts and design our program in the supervision of experts and renowned intellects of Nepal. The session will also help visitors to tackle the barriers and cope up with cultural shock that they might face during their field work.
The Accommodation in fields is usually in Local and community home stay. We will stay in a very simplistic manner while hosts are very welcoming and cater you with love and care. We would like to say that our homestay in fields is not filled with luxurious mattresses or ensuite restrooms, however its clean and very unaffected from modern way of living.
The Meals includes typical Nepali food which is provided twice or thrice a day by family. Nepali food basically consists of Lentils, vegetables and rice but differs locally. Dish might be different according to different communities but you would be served very organic and natural foods and vegetables.
The volunteers should be very flexible working in the field, it’s more of physical work in agricultural land helping farmers and they must be at least 17 years old to participate.
The program is designed on the basis of identification of needs in the field and participants’ choice, it’s available at all times of year.
