University of Guelph

Ntokozo James Mpofu

ESN for Nepal

"one hectare at a time"

Nepal • located in South Asia. • landlocked and

bordered between China and India.

• has a population of 27.8 Million people.

• capital city is Kathmandu.

Nepal Geography and Land use at a glance

• Total area of the nation is 147,181 sq. km.

- area consists of mountainous, hill and Terai terrain.• Land use: • arable land - 16% (land cultivated for crops like wheat, maize and

rice that are replanted after each harvest.)• permanent crops - 0.8% (land cultivated for crops that are not

replanted after each harvest such as citrus, coffee and rubber, as well as plants such as fruit trees and shrubs.)

• other - 83.2% (all other land that is not arable or under permanent crops such as permanent meadows, pastures, forests and woodlands, buit-on areas, roads, barren land, etc.)

Agriculture in Nepal

Agriculture in Nepal

• Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy.

• Over 70% of the country's population is engaged in Agriculture for livelihood.

• Agriculture accounts for at least one third of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product - value of all final goods and services produced within a

nation in a given year)

• Industrial activity mainly involves the processing of agricultural products, including pulses, jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain.

Nitrogen Fertilizers

• Nitrogen is a natural element found in the atmosphere.

• Makes up 16% of proteins that plants need for growth and survival.

• Increase in both population and food demands globally, have increased the use of nitrogen fertilizers by farmers.

Enhanced Efficiency Nitrogen Fertilizers (EEF): Environmentally Smart Nitrogen

Environmentally Smart Nitrogen

• Created and developed by Agrium Advanced Technologies, headquartered in Calgary Alberta.

• Uses polymer coated Nitrogen granules (patented!).

• N release is controlled by soil moisture and temperature.

How does it work...?

ESN: how it works

• Water moves into the polymer coated urea granules.

• N dissolves in the solution inside the granule.

• N exits through the polymer coating into the soil solution.

Note - factors such as field location, soil type and weather conditions are to be considered when applying ESN.

ESN Benefits to Nepal

Benefits to Nepal

• ESN could supply readily available N needed to grow paddy* with minimal N loss due to volatilization, and leaching.

*Paddy (unmilled rice) is Nepal's highest produced cereal crop and is grown on more than a million hectares of arable land area.

• ESN responds and releases N based on soil temperatures thus providing N to crops when needed. (suitable for a warm and wet climate such as that of Nepal)

• A safe alternative to urea and other natural urea sources and can be top-dress applied to crops, with low burn potential.

• Diversity of crops and increase in yields can boost agri-systems, create export opportunities to the growing neighbouring nations of China and India, and sustain the Nepalese economy.

Benefits to Canada

Benefits to Canada

• Agrium Advanced Technologies can establish awareness and promote the eco-friendly benefits of using the Canadian made N fertilizer in Nepal.

• Inclines in Nepal's agricultural production may result in increased demand of other agri-system inputs such as machinery made in Canada, and reinforce bilateral trade.

- Canada mainly exports machinery as well as vegetables amongst other products to Nepal, and imports textile garments and apparel.

• Other developing nations may be interested in importing ESN as well and boost Canadian revenue.

Challenges

• The cost of ESN to Nepalese farmers once import related charges are accounted for may be expensive.

• Urea is a cheaper source of Nitrogen commonly used in Nepal and agronomists would need practical evidence of long term benefits of using ESN instead.

• Competition from China and India in the supply of cheaper N fertilizers.

However...

Nepal could increase both the diversity of crop yields and profitablity in the nation's agricultural sector by using a Canadian product that is environmentally smart, in the light of current global warming concerns.

References

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. (2012). Canadian farm fuel and fertilizer: prices and expenses. Market Outlook Report, 4 (1). Retrieved from http://www.agr.gc.ca/eng/industry-markets-and-trade/statistics-and-market-information/by-product-sector/crops/crops-market-information-canadian-industry/market-outlook-report/canadian-farm-fuel-and-fertilizerprices-and-expenses-march-2012/?id=1378845446435

Agrium Inc. Smart Nitrogen. (2014). What is esn [Product information]. Available from http://www.smartnitrogen.com/what-is-esn

Agrium Inc. Wholesale (2014). Agricultural specialties [Product information]. Available from http://www.agriumwholesale.com/about_us/agricultural_specialties.jsp

Frink, C. R., Waggoner, P. E. & Ausubel, J. H., (1999). Nitrogen Fertilizer: Retrospect and Prospect. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 96, No. 4, 1175-1180.

Index Mundi. (2014). Nepal economy - overview [Data]. Available from http://www.indexmundi.com/nepal/economy_overview.html

Index Mundi. (2014). Nepal land use [Data]. Available from http://www.indexmundi.com/nepal/land_use.html

Ntokozo James Mpofu

University of Guelph in partnership with IDRC CIFSRF and DFAIT

Faculty Sponsor: Prof. Manish Raizada  (raizada@uoguelph.ca)

Total presentation time: 5m30sec

Thank you!!