“The boys are sitting for agriculture skill tests,” says Rai. “They are from Khotang.”
An agriculturist and social entrepreneur, Rai is a conceptualizer and the coordinator of the Khotang Development Forum, an NGO established in Diktel Bazaar of Khotang district. [break]At present, the NGO works on 800 ropanis of land, where the organization runs farms, a school, and provides training to locals on commercial agriculture and skill-based employment.
Born and raised in one of the poor families of Khotang, Rai is an exemplary figure of hard work and determination.
After 33 years of his career—17 years as an agriculture specialist for the then His Majesty’s Government of Nepal, and 10 years with the United Nations, and the rest of the years in several food and agriculture organizations as an agricultural expert—Rai started his Khotang project 15 years ago.
During his career, Rai designed and implemented several agricultural and vocational skills and rural development projects, Mustang’s agro-tourism being one of the most successful. Remembering his civil servant years during the 1970s in Mustang, he says, “I was earning like a civil officer but I wasn’t working like one.”
He adds, “I mobilized farmers, assisted them and worked along with them on their farms.” On Rai’s suggestion, farmers opened hotels on their own farms and utilized their products rather than relying on imported materials.
“I was appointed to standardize people’s lives over there through agriculture, and I did it honestly.” And Rai’s vision and passion paid off, too.
At 63, the man is full of vigor and determined to work for other 30 years. “If I live that long, that is,” he joyfully adds.
The Week caught up with Rai for conversation.
We still live by the 1980s notion that the country’s major source of livelihood is agriculture, while it’s quite apparent that one of our major exports at present is the country’s manpower. Enlighten us.
In the hills, 30% of the cultivable land is barren and about 10% in the Tarai region. The country imports goods worth four hundred billion Rupees —foodstuffs and clothing are major imports. This is mainly because the country has failed to introduce new technologies and implement new methods of modern agriculture. Sadly, both statesmen and citizens fail to recognize these immediate concerns.
How can Nepal benefit from agriculture?
Nepal can regain food security and cash security by a proper utilization of both the Tarai areas and hilly regions. For cash security, we should increase food production through several resources and its mobilization, such as introducing new species and varieties of crops. We can be financially independent if we export our food.
Nepal needs agro-tourism for economic development. When you combine agriculture and tourism, there is a complementing effect like that of Mustang. People over there have taken agriculture and tourism simultaneously. Like Mustang, there are several other regions in Nepal that can benefit from this model. For instance, developing different types of agricultural resorts and farms, such as fruit orchards and tea gardens as destinations are ways whereby our food value will also increase.
Tell us something about the Khotang project.
After several years of experience in this field, I wanted to work for the country’s development, mainly in my hometown. Khotang, moreover, was known as Purbako Karnali (the Karnali of the east), which itself states much about the district’s bad conditions.
Even though the locals in Khotang were involved in farming, it didn’t meet their demands and help them sustain modern life. Thus, our development efforts give priority to agriculture so that we’re able to cope with modern needs. The Forum serves as a research and training station. We test new crop varieties and their technologies and also prepare manpower for improved farming. We believe in “Work for Education, and Education for Development.”
What is the idea behind your Bani Change and Thaha t-shirts?
Generally, Nepalis are self-centered, superstitious, and ignorant people. The country is lagging behind due to these negative attributes and attitude. We have to change our attitude to be self-sustainable. We should be the change makers. The t-shirt is all about generating awareness regarding the aforementioned points. I’ve planned to take this campaign nationwide.
We often hear youth complaining that they lack opportunities in this country. What exactly is opportunity for youth?
There are plenty of opportunities in Nepal; it’s just that the generation is confused. Isn’t tilling your own land or being a part of construction projects a work?
This generation’s biggest problem is that they expect and demand a lot. They desire and copy American lifestyles but behave like cavemen.
Start from where you are and with what you got. Learn, work and be able to save so that you can invest it. I’ve proven it myself, now it’s the turn of our youth.
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