Nisdi Rural Municipality isn’t just a place to me; it’s a community I deeply care about. Growing up nearby, I saw how tirelessly farmers worked in their fields, only to face unpredictable market prices that undervalued their hard work. These struggles left a lasting impression on me and became the driving force behind my efforts to create meaningful solutions. My journey to address these challenges took shape during my time in the private sector. I was struck by the stark reality of how little farmers earned from the value chain, even as they bore the brunt of market and climate risks. This realization fueled my determination to design solutions that empower farmers to take control of their livelihoods. As a postgraduate student in Agricultural Economics, I’ve turned this vision into action through the Price Smart Production Plan (PSPP) tool; a project supported by the Youth Action Fund fellowship at Purak Asia.
The PSPP tool is a decision-making aid designed to help smallholder farmers, starting with ginger growers in Nisdi, make smarter, data-driven choices. Here’s how it works: the PSPP models’ climatic patterns alongside price fluctuations to predict the likely price during harvesting. Analyzing decades of weather data and market trends provides farmers personalized recommendations on when to plant and harvest to align with optimal market conditions. This helps farmers avoid losses from unfavorable weather or low market prices, enabling them to maximize their profitability while reducing risks.
Implementing the PSPP tool has been both a fulfilling and challenging journey. The first hurdle was obtaining and processing reliable data. Government records were often incomplete and disorganized, requiring significant effort to clean and analyze before they could be used. Engaging with farmers brought its challenges—many were initially skeptical, unsure how the tool would benefit them. Building trust requires patience, open dialogue, and demonstrating real value. The logistical demands of Nisdi’s rugged terrain added another layer of complexity, especially during the farmers’ peak work seasons. But amidst these challenges came moments of hope and validation. Farmers began to embrace the tool once they understood how it could improve their decision-making. Watching them experiment with PSPP’s recommendations—adjusting planting and harvesting schedules to match predicted conditions—was incredibly rewarding. For example, one farmer shifted his ginger harvesting schedule based on PSPP’s advice, avoiding a predicted weather anomaly and securing a better market price. Local government bodies, initially hesitant, gradually became supportive, recognizing the potential of this initiative.
To ensure the tool’s accuracy, we’ve adopted a two-phase experimentation approach. The PSPP tool will first be tested in my own field to refine its recommendations. Then, it will be piloted in farmers’ fields, allowing us to gather practical feedback and fine-tune its functionality. This iterative process is critical to ensuring the tool is both scientifically robust and farmer-friendly.
This project is about more than individual successes, it’s about transforming the agricultural system. By empowering farmers with data-driven insights, the PSPP tool fosters resilience and efficiency across the value chain. It benefits not only the farmers but also consumers, markets, and the environment. In the long run, I envision the PSPP tool scaling to serve farmers across regions and crops, creating a smarter, more sustainable agricultural system. The goal is a future where farmers are equipped to navigate uncertainties, achieve economic stability, and contribute to a resilient food system despite the challenges of climate change.
This journey has been a profound lesson in perseverance, adaptability, and collaboration. It’s a deeply personal mission driven by the belief that with the right tools and support, we can create a fairer, more sustainable future for those who feed us all. The PSPP tool is just the beginning, and its potential fills me with hope for what lies ahead.
Susil Khanal
Susil Khanal is a sustainability enthusiast driving innovative solutions like Price Smart Production Planning (PSPP) to enhance agricultural profitability. His work focuses on linking local products to premium markets and promoting eco-friendly, community-driven initiatives for resilient food systems.
This article is a product of the Youth Action Fund – Insights to Social Impact, an initiative supported by Purak Asia. The Youth Action Fund is a four-month fellowship program designed to empower young individuals to implement innovative solutions addressing critical societal challenges. The program focuses on themes such as Sustainable Future, Effective Governance, and Alternative Approaches to Rural Economic Issues. It provides essential support and guidance to youth-led initiatives, encouraging their efforts to establish social enterprises and develop creative solutions for governance and sustainability challenges.
