About 65.6 % people are directly or indirectly dependent in agriculture in Nepal. Despite being a predominantly agricultural country, people in Nepal—particularly the young generation, aged between 10 and 24, which constitutes 33% of the total population—do not choose agriculture as their preferred profession and do not work in countryside. Rather, they prefer to move to urban centers in search of better life. This results into in two major problems: decrease in agricultural productivity and over-crowded urban centers with significant challenges to manage.
Two major issues are widely reported to exist in engaging youth in agriculture: lack of access to information and knowledge about agriculture; and lack of visibility of their agro-products and access to market.
We will develop teaching and learning materials to help local schools embed open mapping in their existing curriculum or as an additional learning activity. After discussing it with schools, we have identified that it nicely fits into existing Social Studies curriculum of grades IX and X.
Interested in participating? Email osmgeoweek@gmail.com to learn more.