People’s ways of working, producing, consuming, trading, and living have all changed dramatically as a result of the COVID-19 issue. There has been a broad shift to working from home as well as a growing reliance on e-commerce for groceries and other daily necessities, both of which have impacted traditional retail.

Agriculture is the main source of food, income, and work for the majority of the population, particularly in rural areas of Nepal. Lack of technology has been one of the greatest factors for the slow growth of Nepalese agriculture. Nepal is currently experiencing major difficulty in modernizing traditional subsistence farming and adapting traditional techniques to contemporary technology. Due to high transaction costs and price volatility, farmers in many low-income countries have barriers to accessing the resources needed to embrace new technology.

Farmers, on the other hand, continue to use traditional methods. Role model farmers are receiving skill development training and knowledge on current agriculture technologies (mechanical and methodological) from government and non-government institutions (e.g. district agriculture development office, department of agriculture, and agriculture service center). Farmers who use current agriculture technologies can produce large amounts of farm products. They have the potential to earn significantly more money than those who continue to use old technology.

Over 2,500 seed entrepreneurs in Nepal who work in seed production, processing, and marketing rely on public research centers for early generation seeds of various crops, particularly cereals, for subsequent seed multiplication.

One of the most pressing issues that farmers face around the world is a lack of timely access to quality seeds due to the scarcity of improved varieties, a lack of information about them, and poor planning and supply management.

The use of technology to create incremental changes in existing food systems will be critical to the future of human food systems. Considering the potential of digitalization in agriculture, one of the great initiative steps taken by the Government of Nepal is the Digitally Enabled Seed Information System (DESIS). This article will provide you with a general overview of DESIS in Nepal.

Digitally Enabled Seed Information System (DESIS)

NSAF, in partnership with SQCC under the leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD), used digital technology to build an efficient, dynamic, and scalable Digitally Enabled Seed Information System (DESIS). The Digital Development for Feed the Future (D2FTF) program, which aimed to demonstrate that digital technologies and approaches may expedite progress toward food security and nutrition goals, brought together the US Global Development Lab and USAID to create this initiative.

Nepal’s USAID-funded FHI 360 Mobile Solutions Technical Assistance and Research (mSTAR) project conducted a needs assessment with relevant seed stakeholders. The NSAF and its partners identified a local IT expert and began work on DESIS based on this work.

Figure: Screenshot of DESIS Portal

A national database is used in this method to provide quick access to an online seed catalog that contains the characteristics and sources of all registered varieties. A balance sheet collects and distributes real-time information on seed demand and supply to all stakeholders at the same time. The digital platform also aids in the planning and tracking of seed production and distribution throughout time.

The seed balance sheet will be provided by DESIS in an automated format. Agencies will be able to make requests and seed providers will be able to post their seed supplies using unique logins. The platform will make it easier to collect and manage seeds from breeders, foundations, and sources and verified and labeled the open-source seed. Users will be able to view seed characteristics, compare seeds, and select released and registered types accessible in Nepal using the system’s offline seed catalog. Seed quality reports for batches of seeds can also be generated by users.

To improve the internal Nepalese seed market, the technology will connect farmers with seed producers and purchasers. DESIS’s overall purpose is to assist farmers in increasing yields and improving livelihoods while also contributing to national food security.

It is extremely safe, user-friendly, and simple to upgrade. Seed firms, agricultural research centers, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, agro vets, cooperatives, farmers, development partners, universities, researchers, policymakers, and international institutions will be the primary consumers of the technology. The system will be available on a mobile website and an Android app and is built on open-source software.

Figure: General idea of DESIS System

Digital solutions are essential for connecting the agricultural market with key information so that farmers may make better production and harvest decisions. CIMMYT is also focusing on implementing digital seed inspection and a QR code-based quality certification system as part of the NSAF project. The system’s long-term goal is to build a seed data warehouse that connects the seed information portal to the seed market data system.

The objectives of the DESIS system in Nepal :

  • To ensure the availability of quality seeds to the general farmers by implementing seed quality control systems all over Nepal.
  • To help increase the income of the farmers by producing quality seeds and selling the seeds in the national and international markets.
  • To replace the imported seeds and promote export.
  • To assist in providing quality seed vision in the seed market and to coordinate and consult with other seed concerned agencies for the preparation and implementation of guidelines and procedures as per the National Seed Policy, Act, and Rules.