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Nepal where Tarai competes with hills 

Hills compete with mountains 

Mountains compete with Himalayas 

Himalayas compete with clouds 

Clouds compete with airplanes- 

Ascending step by step-

To make it into heaven

From where become visible

The Icebergs dancing in the sea of clouds!

All corners, cleavages and crescents 

Are waiting there to be explored,

Lakes, rivers and rivulets

Are waiting for splashes to occur,

Chirpings of birds and sounds of waterfalls 

Are waiting to be heard,

Meditative yoga, murmuring mantras 

And third eye postures

Are waiting to imbibe energy,

A rainbow ribbon stretched east to west

Shrunk north to south,

Oh, all blessed

By diversity of people, flora and fauna

And Bestowed with the gift of

The highest mountain and the deepest gorge!

Gifted by diverse cultures,

Multilingual and multi racial compositions,

Endowed with three inclusive state governance,

And two neighbours

With fast growing economies!

Having said all these

We are still

An economically backward country

Needing to be transformed

Into a state of prosperity 

Acting as bridge between

Giant neighbours India and China, 

And international tourism flourishing 

In this dear land of the Buddha!

Hisila Yami

Former Minister for Tourism and Aviation

The Indian state of Odisha and India’s northern neighboring country Nepal are both seats of rich culture and are deeply rooted in heritage based on Hindu and Buddhist culture with close religious links. As the most populous country on the planet each state in India is a country in terms of numbers. Odisha is nearly 1.5 times Nepal in terms of its population. Strikingly, both Odisha and Nepal are heavily dependent on agriculture, highly vulnerable to climate change,and—being migrant donors—have experienced stand out reduction in poverty.  

Here are a few more common threads between Odisha and Nepal. Odisha recorded the largest reduction in poverty among India’s major states. Based on NITI Aayog’s 2023 Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) report, the multidimensional poverty rate in Odisha decreased from 29.34 percent in 2015-16 to 15.68 percent in 2019-21. Nepal also made substantive progress in reducing MPI from 30.1 percent in 2014 to 17.4 percent in 2019. This progress suggests that Odisha and Nepal are headed in the right direction. However, in both cases, regional disparity based on geography and economic status and social identity and nutritional deprivations remain among the most significant contributors to MPI.

Given the structure of the economy in both Odisha and Nepal, a generalized reduction in poverty could be attributed to increased income from agriculture and its resilience. Having endowed with good cultivable lands, both have huge potentials to overcome poverty through agricultural development. As Odisha hosts an international high level policy forum in Bhubaneshwar for accelerating inclusive agriculture transformation on December 20th, it poses the question what does it mean for south-south learning and cooperation in our neighborhood? The agriculture transformation pathways are largely similar but the methods could be different and subject to learning.  

In the one and a half decade since 2000, agriculture in Odisha grew faster than the average of Indian states (4.5 percent versus 3.1 percent). Samrudhi agricultural Policy, 2020, aimed to capitalize on this momentum by focusing on social and economic wellbeing of the farmers (including sharecroppers and landless) while aiming to ensure the growth process as environmentally, economically and technologically inclusive. Nepal’s focus on rural transformation, for example in the Samriddi project, also aims to diversify the range of economic activities for rural households through promotion of self-employment and small businesses and microenterprises. Both these approaches emphasize the role of diversification and market linkages along with technology as key drivers of transformative strategies.

One of the primal policies has been digitization in agriculture. Inter alia it accounted for monitoring and information about several interrelated factors such as weather, inputs, policies that bear on agricultural outcomes. This mandated data collection and curation on multiple fronts. In 2017, Odisha created a data management system involving multiple sources that generated comprehensive real time data required for agri-food systems planning and execution. The decision support system also built in monitoring systems for projects and programs. With the comprehensive span of data and in real time, this portal became a valuable tool for inclusive agricultural transformation analytics and assessment. Something akin to this has been attempted in Nepal as Geo Krishi. In situations like those in Odisha and Nepal, there are multiple missing markets (credit and insurance), thus rationalizing bundling to provide for different needs. At a system level, for inclusive agricultural transformation, there have thus been bundled products.

As identified the main issue plaguing agriculture and its transformation have been the markets. The digital data platforms must get the scientific measure of market access which requires assessing all possible trade links (domestic, international, regional as a system) and trade costs. There are common products like cotton that are of relevance to both Nepal and Odisha. These platforms with their reach should be used for market exploration and monitoring of risks embedded in volatility brought about by market access. Most importantly they could be used for value chain integration where the Indian state like Odisha and India’s friendly neighboring country Nepal can position themselves in the value chain based on comparative advantage i.e. whether to specialize in raw cotton or yarn or fabric or apparel. Geographically proximate, in cotton and other products Odisha and Nepal could be benefited by becoming part of GVC. If tropical fruits from Odisha were to be processed in Nepal and apples from Nepal were to be processed in Odisha based on their comparative advantage, it would bring significant gains for both trading partners.

How policies have an attenuation or reinforcement effect on market access need to be assessed. The system of pricing in states has a direct spillover effect on other Indian states and Nepal. A system of goods and services tracking through formal and informal systems. Being part of linked value chains will also become the pathway for flow of information and knowledge. Having a similar transformative role of agriculture in poverty reduction and adoption of innovative platforms, the next frontier is to employ them for markets. Used as a risk management tool will facilitate the move towards inclusive agricultural transformation for both Odisha and Nepal where pivot for inclusiveness is managing risks as nothing differentiates and excludes more than a shock. The policy should emphasize the development of enabling market factors such as warehousing and quality testing infrastructure. These changes inter alia are risk-mitigating arrangements and the extent to which they absorb risk are by designing systems for inclusiveness.

Desserts complete a meal. After you have had a nice dinner, there’s nothing like a slice of gooey cake with caramel drizzled on top to make you feel like your soul has been nourished. Other times, you are just in the mood for something sweet. You aren’t hungry but you want to indulge in something delicious after a particularly tough meeting or on a lazy Sunday afternoon when you want to spend some time by yourself. Here are five places you can head to if you are in the mood for some perfectly crafted cakes and desserts.

Singma Cafe

A food court of sorts serving warm, wholesome meals, Singma Cafe in Jhamsikhel has the best cheesecakes. The items are slightly on the pricier side but the taste more than makes up for it. The Japanese Cotton Cheesecake and Blueberry Cheesecake are crowd favorites at the cafe. The Apple Crumble Pie also deserves a special mention. They aren’t very sweet but hit all the right notes. 

Capital Grill 

Capital Grill or Jimbu Thakali is a busy place, especially during lunch and dinner time. You might have heard of it as a place that serves Nepali khana. But a few years ago, they added some really nice desserts on their menu. From homemade vanilla cake to churros, there’s a neat selection. Some come with ice cream on top and some are bathed in caramel sauce. You won’t be disappointed.

Ama Bakery

This little busy place has two outlets in Kathmandu, one in Boudha and the other in Swayambhu. The Swiss Roll and Dora cake are just the things you might want to grab if you are in the mood for a sweet dessert that feels like a meal. They will tide you over till dinner. They are moderately sweet and you won’t feel like you overdosed on the sweet stuff. They also have slices of banana bread and coconut cake for just Rs 30. Actually, everything here is reasonably priced and the taste is outstanding.

Herman Helmers 

Breads, cookies, cakes, Herman Helmers has all your bakery needs sorted. There are many kinds of breads, cookies, cakes, and healthy treats available here. Their smoothly whipped cream that just melts in your mouth makes their cakes stand out. There are all kinds of varieties of cakes and Swiss Rolls as well with the option of buying small portions if you don’t want the whole thing. You will be spoilt for choice. They also have eggless and sugar-free versions available on request.

Makoo Bakery

Located in Jawalakhel, Makoo Bakery is a perfect spot to sip on some instant coffee or tea and indulge in a slice of cake or two. We recommend the Chocolate Snap which, when heated a little, is just the right consistency. The varieties of pastries on display will make you want to try everything and you can pick one without much thought as they all taste really good. It’s not an expensive place and that’s always a good thing.

Several people use vision boards as a creative and reflective way to set intentions and goals during the New Year. This simple yet powerful tool connects creativity and psychology by providing a tangible means to align your dreams with actionable steps.

A vision board is a collection of images, quotes, and symbols representing your goals and desires. It is more than just an arts-and-crafts project; it's a visual representation of what you want to manifest in your life. According to Benedict in her paper ‘Using Vision Boards to Reflect on Relevant Experiences and Envision Ideal Futures’ she stated that creating and presenting vision boards enables students to reflect on their personal, academic, and professional experiences and envision their ideal futures. Using this method, you create a clear picture of the future you are working towards by carefully selecting and arranging visuals that resonate with your goals. The process in itself is empowering as it helps you reflect on what's truly important and aids you in applying your energy toward the outcome you intend to manifest. By putting your thoughts and desires into some kind of physical format, a vision board is one consistent reminder of where you want to head.

Psychology behind vision board

The power of the vision board lies in its effect on the mind. Psychologically, they implement the use of the Reticular Activating System (RAS)— mechanism in the brain, which filters information and highlights what is important to you. As per the National Library of Medicine “the grouping of neurons that together make up the RAS are ultimately responsible for attention, arousal, modulation of muscle tone, and the ability to focus”. This means that by consistently focusing on certain goals or ideas, such as the ones on the vision board, you can train your RAS to prioritize relevant information, keeping you motivated toward achieving your aspirations. This helps the brain be consciously aware of opportunities that match one's aspirations on a continued basis. For example, an individual desiring a change in career notices jobs available, network contacts, or specific skills to develop with the help of increased awareness.

Visualizing success activates similar neural pathways in the brain such as physically succeeding. As per The Behaviour Institute, “When athletes visualize themselves performing at their best, the brain activates similar neural pathways as it would during the actual physical execution”. This process includes the activation of motor, sensory, and emotive parts of the brain. For example, by visualizing winning a race, one may activate the motor cortex that controls movement and the limbic system related to feeling. This stimulation strengthens neural connections associated with those actions and feelings, essentially ‘training’ your brain for success. Through this mental rehearsal, you generate familiarity and a sense of confidence with the steps needed to realize your goal. This can help you to feel less anxious about what is expected and can improve your performance when that actual moment does arrive.

Moreover, repetition strengthens the neural connections and rewires the brain to align your thoughts and behaviors with your desired outcomes. This process is known as neuroplasticity. By consistently visualizing your goals through a vision board, you train your mind to stay focused and motivated, even amidst distractions.

Benefits of vision board

There are numerous benefits that one can get with the use of a vision board. The act of simply arranging and prioritizing your goals in order to make a vision board helps to solidify your dreams and aspirations, giving time for reflection on what truly matters. This board serves as a reminder so that your goals remain at the forefront of your mind. Also, they foster positivity by focusing on what one wants to achieve rather than what could go wrong, hence creating a sense of optimism and possibility.

How to create a vision board?

Start by categorizing your goals such as health, career, relationships, and personal growth. Then you can look for relatable images, take some magazines, printed pictures, quotes, and a board. You can also look for inspiration in apps such as Pinterest and Instagram. Select only those pictures and words which can relate to your deepest inspirations and intentions. Now, create your board by setting up these in a certain meaningful and inspiring way; because there is no right or wrong way of doing it, the board should express your unique vision. Lastly, place your vision board somewhere you’ll see it daily to ensure regular reinforcement of your goals.

Balancing visualization with action

Similarly, while vision boards are incredibly powerful tools, they work really well when they are balanced out with equal effort and action. Reflecting on it every now and then will have you making decisions and working towards your goals.  For instance, if your board features a picture of a summer beach holiday then you might start budgeting or planning your leave days from work. Research suggests that combining visualization with detailed plans like “deciding when and how you’ll act” significantly increases the likelihood of achieving your goals.

With the New Year approaching, making a vision board offers a more conscious and thoughtful way to set the stage for a more fulfilling year. Social media networks are filled with examples of vision boards, motivating many people to adopt this ritual. This is a collective reminder that dreams are fulfilled when brought into reality by clear vision and persistent effort.