Improving Millet Production Through Solar Energy‑Based Automation in Nepal

The millet, a local Nepali grain, is nutritionally rich and helps increase food security in extreme mountain weather conditions. This paper suggests the use of solar energy‑powered mechanization as a sustainable change to transform millet farming in Nepal. Solar power can be utilized to power irrigation systems, harvesters, and other equipment, thereby maximizing water utilization, minimizing drudgery, and ensuring the timely start of activities, while also substituting fossil fuels or grid power with high solar energy potential in Nepal. The research was conducted in the provinces of Gandaki and Bagmati in Nepal, specifically in areas where millets are a major crop. Two hundred forty millet farmers in a quantitative survey were interviewed to determine production issues and technology adoption, and a purposive subset of 18 farmers in controlled field trials was tested to test the performance of solar‑powered technologies. However, problems such as the high upfront costs, lack of technical skills, inefficient supply chain, and the inability to scale up in the smallholders block the expansion of the masses. To address these challenges, the study recommends coordinating efforts among government agencies, development partners, and private stakeholders. Subsidies, capacity building, and custom technology design can be used as strategic interventions. The increased solar mechanization of millet farming holds the potential of transformational gains: improved food security, rising farm incomes, a less harmful effect on the environment, and climate‑resilient farming in Nepal.