Outreach Research
Vital For Agricultural Development

By Ram Bahadur Bhujel

GENERATION of technologies is mainly based on needs and demand of the day. However, some are designed for basic research while others are need-based. Both types of technologies are adopted by respective consumers according to their socio-economic status. Generation and development of technologies particularly in agriculture cannot be introduced and imported directly from foreign land unless it is found locally fit. Because the agricultural technologies related to field activities are directly governed by macro and micro climatic condition. Therefore, the technologies need to be verified under local climatic condition so as to make them acceptable at least to local clients in the beginning.

Mainstay

Since agriculture is the mainstay of Nepalese people, the generation, development and dissemination of agricultural technologies is vital for economic growth and development of the country. Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) is an apex body mandated for agricultural research in Nepal established under NARC Act 2048, B.S. It has different commodity programmes, Disciplinary Divisions, Regional Agriculture Research Stations (RARS), and Agriculture Research Stations (ARS) which carry out research activities in different commodities of livestock, fishery and agricultural crops.
The major process of technology generation happens at R/ARS, Commodity Programmes and Disciplinary Divisions where the performance of related commodities is evaluated in different characteristics-basis mainly directed by the objectives of research projects. The evaluations are pursued at least for three to five years or more depending on the nature and objective of research in different commodities. The elite genotypes/breeds species are then identified on the basis of their production and related parameters. Actually, these elite groups are identified under research station condition where most of the circumstances are controlled and maintained adequately except the natural events in weather condition. It is a well known fact that the end-users of agricultural technologies are farmers under varied agro-ecological zones where the circumstances are not similar and controlled. Therefore, the technologies need to be verified under different agro-environments prevailing in the region or command area. Wihtout this step, the problem created by certain technologies adopted by farmers directly from the source which are technically unidentified may not be corrected immediately after the claim of the clients. In case of delay in solution, agriculture workers are being blamed as if they are employed to be blamed. The system of direct adoption is never given attention by any one. Good things are easily adopted without caring its future consequences but the problems arise when they fail to meet our environment and make losses to farmers. At least short information about technology to be adopted needs to be noted which makes easy to reach conclusion by agricultural scientists as doctor gets from their early prescriptions.
Outreach Research Division (ORD) under NARC is assigned to look after the outreach research activities in central level while each RARS and ARS has their own command area/districts for verification of technologies identified agro-ecologically in different region. ORD is responsible not only for its own outreach activities but also help NARC for formulating policies related to outreach research, its implementation status and current activities in the country through different RARS and ARS. There are more than 70 districts which are being served as command districts of 18 Regional/Agriculture Research Stations in the country. The respective RARS and ARS have identified certain representative Village Development Committees (VDC) for research activities which are known as Outreach Research Site. The VDCs are categorised according to their representation of major agro-ecological zones prevailing in the region.

The on-station generated technologies are now brought at outreach research site where farmers, extensionists and researchers paritcipate in verification process. The material inputs like seeds/breeds/saplings/species, fertilisers, medicines, and agrochemicals are supplied to farmers. All operations related to research activities are carried out by farmers on technical advice of concerned researcher.

This process of research is called outreach research programme which is made participatory in nature. The performance of each commodity is carefully observed and data are recorded for scientific analysis. Farmers with their participation perform all intercultural operations in field crops and so in other commodities and observe the performance. The same research work is carried out at least for three to five years plus under identified agro-ecological zones.

The best performers are recognised on several aspects such as yield, disease and insect resistance, maturity days, fineness, straw yield and tolerance to drought condition. The farmers' reactions are highly prioritised and recorded for further implication. Any technology that meets to fulfill above score in positive sign is then meant for wider adoption in the region. However, the legal process for variety release is put forward along with all performance records to central level board by concerned commodity programme.

Such Process of verification is very important for location specific technology which suits in certain domain while unfits in other. During the verification process, the elite genotypes are adapted by farmers as they believe its performance due to their own involvement in outreach research programme. From this step the absorption of improved technologies take place through farmers to farmers, researcher to farmers and extension to farmers. The research trials are also visited by other neighboring farmers and farmers from other parts of the region organised by District Agriculture Development and District Livestock Service Offices (DADO and DLSO). The adoption goes on widening irrespective of formal recommendation because seeing is believing plays a vital role in dissemination process. Even the demonstration effect becomes active right from the beginning of experiment. The poor technologies are rejected by farmers owing to feedback to researcher for further improvement in research proposals.

Dissemination

Though, the mandate of research institution ends after verification of technologies and the dissemination part is transferred to extension agents (DADO and DLSO); the joint venture of research and extension is needed to be formulated for further dissemination in the reion. The joint venture should aim to let the programme pursued for further three to five years for wider adoption and sufficient feedback to researcher and policy makers.

The work in isolation (research and extension) results in slow movement of technology while that of joint venture would owe to speed up dissemination of technologies for quick outputs in the country. Thus the technologies verified by target clients and responsible agencies (research and extension) help develop technologies which are technically sound and feasible, socially acceptable, environmentally suitable, economically profitable and sustainable at least as a domain specific in command area of respective institutions in the country.

Ray Of Hope For Tourism Revival

By Mohan K.C.

TOURISM has for the past several decades played an important role in contributing to the national economy. Though there were very few visitors to Nepal when the doors for foreigners were opened in 1950, it slowly increased to reach a figure of 500,000. As an important sector, its development is seen as necessary.

Ups And Downs

There have been many ups and downs as far as the tourism sector is concerned yet great hopes are pinned on it for providing employment opportunities to the people and making the country known globally. Tourism industry also supports other sectors of the economy in various ways. A look at the tourist arrivals in recent years shows that the tourism industry has suffered. Starting from 1999, a decline in tourist arrivals can be seen. The year 1999 saw some 480,000 arrivals but in the following years it went down dramatically. Comparatively speaking, the year 2002 saw a slight improvement though the incoming visitors' figure of 185,000 (till November, 2002) does not sound very impressive.

The arrivals have not gone down just because of the situation in Nepal. The international scene is also there to show that the global movement of tourists has become less. The 9/11 tragic incident itself triggered the reduced flow of tourists all around the world. There are many hot spots in the world and this has led to the hesitation on the part of tourists to visit countries which are in this region.
Tourists are a sensitive lot and over an above that the diplomatic missions issue directives on the state of affairs. With the communications being very sophisticated, instant messages are relayed all over the world and this affects the plans of the would-be visitors.

It is not only Nepal that is seeing fewer tourists, other countries are feeling the pinch. In Nepal, the frequent closures have also dampened the spirit of the travel and tourism entrepreneurs. With so much investment made in the tourism sector, the returns have not been satisfactory. It was for this very reason that the government initiated many steps including the Destination Nepal Campaign, opening up of new peaks and some restricted areas, waiver or reduction of permit fees for expedition teams and so on. All these have helped the country, to some extent as far as tourism sector is concerned.

It is worthwhile remembering that tourism, in fact, got a boost in the early 1950s due to mountaineering expeditions. It was the first successful ascent of Mount Everest (Sagarmatha) on May 29, 1953 by Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary that the world's attention was rivetted on this Himalayan Kingdom. Since then mountaineering expedition teams have thronged the country. These teams coming to the country have helped in many ways. They have provided jobs to many people and revenue to the government.

Despite the somewhat bleak picture, there is a silver lining in that the number of expedition teams have been increasing. The lure of adventure is still drawing more and more people to Nepal. This is the basis on which optimism for the future is present. There were some 70 expeditions for the autumn season last year which is more than that of 2001. This gives the hope that the spring season this year will see more expedition teams.

Similarly, with both the government and the private sector giving priority to the tourism sector, the number of arrivals will increase this year as compared to the previous year. A factor that may well increase the number of visitors to Nepal is the Mount Everest Golden Jubilee Celebration 2002-2003. As a part of the celebration the Everest summiteers will gather in Kathmandu on May 29, 2003. It will be the greatest gathering of the heroes who have climbed the highest peak in the world. The publicity has gathered momentum and thus all eyes will be focused on Nepal. It will promote the country among the people around the world.

Unique

It is not only the mountains and the pristine nature that attract tourists, the art and culture too are unique in Nepal so they have the power to attract. Despite being a small country, the diversity that one finds here can impress anyone. Sustained efforts to attract tourists are being made on several fronts including attracting tourists from India and China. The drive to increase the flow of tourists is on and it is time that will tell how successful the efforts are.

Helmets Good For Pillion Riders Or Traders

By Bhimsen Thapalia

A CARTOON carried by a sister publication of this daily showed an Indian vendor making rounds in Kathmandu selling helmets in a basket on his head. Indians from Bihar selling fruits in a basket is a common scene in the capital. Drawing analogy from this very fact, the cartoonist put a new item in the vendor's basket- safety helmets for pillion riders. The vendor in the cartoon is surely admiring the Nepalese traffic police. The cartoon rightly hits at the question that are in public mind- is there any kind of police-trader nexus in the decision requiring pillion riders to sport the head gear? The rule of compulsory helmet to both riders of a motorbike has come into effect from Wednesday. The concerned police department has made it clear that the decision was taken in the interests of the riders themselves. But one tends to ask whether there is any scientific ground for making helmets obligatory to the back seat riders. The traffic police have said that their records show that a significant portion of accidents deaths of two-wheelers involved the pillion riders. It is an issue for investigative journalists to find out whether the deaths had to do with absence of helmets.

It is equally important to explain what per cent of accident deaths the new rule is going to reduce. Such a major decision requires a good research. Concerned authorities should come up with data on what better results will be ensured by imposing the new decision. The helmet regulation is not an issue of safety alone. The economic aspect associated with it cannot be ignored.

Buying helmets puts a considerable economic burden on the riders. This decision also ensures somebody's business boom. Whether the traders have influenced the decision makers is a pertinent question. Now it is important for the press to track down if some kind of nexus existed between the businessmen and the traffic authority. It is also noteworthy that why this decision came into being at this particular time. One does not understand why pillion riders did not die because of unprotected head five or ten years ago. Why this rule is being imposed abruptly without being supported by any research findings is a mystery. The police should also come up with data on how many possible accident related deaths were averted, thanks to the headgears the drivers sported.

Naturally, a rule is rule for everybody. However, that has not happened in Nepal. Some riders are getting 'cultural excuses' regarding helmets. If the authority is really concerned to save valuable lives of the people, this must be made the rule- ride with safety gear or don't ride at all. Police may not force to wear helmets to a mourner or a Sikh, but they can reasonably ban unprotected riders to ply along the busy roads. Another question that intuitively crops in your mind is- are all helmets reliable to prevent deaths as envisioned by the traffic authority? If wearing helmets becomes a matter of just formality, the aim of the safety will never be met. If safety issue can be made a mere ritual, one sees the lack of seriousness on the real issue.

It is very interesting for media to monitor the helmet price increase. Buoyed by the police decision, the traders are now out to make the most of the moment. If the administration turns a blind eye at foul game of traders, the police-trader nexus becomes even more evident.