DVI in Nepal
The Digital Village Initiative (DVI), led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), aims to enhance agricultural productivity and rural incomes in Nepal through piloting digital solutions in three rural municipalities: Kalinchowk (high-hill), Rong (mid-hill), and Chhinnamasta (plain). By introducing e-extension services and digital platforms, the DVI supports small-scale farmers, youth, and women, fostering a more inclusive and resilient agricultural sector that aligns with Nepal’s national digital agriculture strategy and contributes to a sustainable and profitable agri-food system.
The DVI project’s achievements in Nepal are built on strong government support and community ownership. With active involvement from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MOALD) and FAO’s technical team, this project aligns with national goals for agricultural innovation. The high-level steering committee coordinates efforts to ensure DVI’s long-term success, promoting sustainable, inclusive agricultural development through digital solutions.
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Country Highlights
Digital Transformation
Farmer-Level DVI Platform Piloting and Scaling
The DVI platform has been piloted to deliver digital resources at the community level, with the goal of scaling up across rural municipalities. Through platforms like the Tele Plant Doctor app and IoT-based climate-smart irrigation systems, this initiative offers direct support to farmers, enhancing productivity and resilience. The ongoing expansion will connect more communities with essential digital tools for modern agriculture.
Digital Transformation
Digital Village Model Development
The Digital Village model introduces a scalable prototype designed to bring digital agriculture services to rural areas. By tailoring digital tools to local needs, the model promotes inclusive access to resources and advisory services that support sustainable farming practices. This model will serve as a foundation for expanding digital agriculture services across Nepal, fostering community engagement and empowering rural farmers.
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FAO supports Nepal in developing a digital agriculture strategy and action plan
FAO is supporting Nepal to develop a digital strategy by conducting a Digital Agriculture Landscape Assessment in Nepal, covering 14 municipalities across seven provinces and insights from 644 households, underscores the need for strengthened digital infrastructure and a skilled workforce to support agricultural technology adoption....
Digital Municipalities in Nepal
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municipality
Chinnamasta Rural Municipality (Plain)
Digital Village Model pilot in Chinnamasta rural municipality, including agro-advisory, Krishi IoT meters, Tele plant Doctor App , onboarding farmers and dynamic alerts to farmers.
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Rong Rural Municipality (Mid-Hill)
Digital Village Model pilot in Rong rural municipality, including, and Gham power IoT meters, web platform for data visualization, Tele plant Doctor App, and farmers alerts.
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Kalingchowk Rural Municipality (High Hill)
Digital Village Model pilot in Kallingchowk rural municipality, including municipal digital agriculture platform, Tele plant Doctor App, solar-powered IoT meters, and more
At Federal, FAO supported Agriculture Information and Training Center (AITC) to host Kishan (Farmers’) Portal to integrate all data and information related to agriculture into a single platform. Further, Farmer Call Center has been modernized with automated call forwarding system, which has increased efficiency and reduced cost significantly. Additionally, digitally enabled room has been established at ATIC and all three pilot municipalities for better connectivity.
Digital Solutions in Nepal
Tele Plant Doctor App is an AI-based crop pest and disease detection system that improves pest and disease control and facilitates adopting integrated pest management (IPM) practices. The App helps identify pests and diseases, recommends effective management options, and controls pesticide-spraying drones, enabling faster and more efficient spraying. Its primary beneficiaries are smallholder farmers and the government of Nepal.
The Geokrishi EXT is a web and mobile app-based solution designed for extension agents. It provides information about farmers and their cultivated crops, streamlines communication, tracks progress, and builds loyalty. It serves farmers, Community Centers, re-skilled Youth, SMEs, and crop and livestock value chain actors.
The Kisan App combines various farm services targeting farming processes. Developed by Nepal's Agricultural Development Bank Limited (ADBL), it facilitates transactions with Krishi merchants, cashpoint agents, and includes payment, utility payment, and knowledge-sharing services related to farming and market prices.
Mizani is an app-based loan appraisal and digital payment platform designed for agriculture. It generates credit scores for smallholder farmers, enabling access to loans and financial inclusion. The App simplifies agriculture loan processing and optimizes risk profiling for banks.
PrabhuPAY simplifies the payment process for goods and services. It supports utility bill payments, money transfers, and mobile recharges, offering a user-friendly platform developed by Prabhu Technology Nepal for quick and easy financial transactions.
Prakop Alert provides real-time information on flash floods and weather forecasts in Nepal. Developed by ICIMOD, it offers data on rainfall, temperature, and river discharge for over 12,000 river segments, helping municipalities with precise and accurate forecasts.
The Digital Seed System is a web-based platform supporting the seed production value chain. It offers a seed catalog, a balance sheet, and real-time updates on seed demand and supply, serving farmers, governments, and private-sector stakeholders.
CONTACT
Ken Shimizu
FAO Representative to Nepal and Bhutan
FAO Nepal
Email: [email protected]
Aziz Elbehri
Digital Agriculture Lead, FAO RAP
FAO Regional Office for Asia-Pacific
Email: [email protected]