Nepalgunj, May 15, 2025 (Jestha 2, 2082 B.S.) – The inception workshop of a three-year project jointly led by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) with technical assistance and the Nepal Agricultural Cooperative Central Federation Limited (NACCFL) was successfully held in Nepalgunj.
The event was attended by over 80 participants from five Small Farmers Agricultural Cooperative Limited (SFACLs) of Bardiya district - Mainapokhar, Deudakala, Panaha, Purnima, and Kalika. The workshop included detailed discussions and presentations on the project’s objectives, planned activities, and expected outcomes.
The FAO delegation included Mr. Ken Shimizu, FAO Country Representative for Nepal and Bhutan; Mr. Aziz Arya, Chief Technical Officer; Dr. Jun Helei, Senior Policy Officer; and Program Specialist Mr. Arun G.C., among others.
From NACCFL, the delegation was led by Chairperson Mr. Khem Bahadur Pathak, Vice-Chairperson Mr. Purna Sharma, Board Member Mr. Hari Bahadur Adhikari, Province Agricultural Cooperative Federation Chairperson Mr. Gopal Poudel, along with other staff members.
Local government representatives included Mr. Khadga Bahadur Khadka, Mayor of Bansgadhi Municipality; Mr. Chhabilal Tharu, Mayor of Barbardiya Municipality, and Deputy Mayor Mrs. Ratna Kumari Pandey; Mr. Himalaya Tripathi, Chairperson of Badhaiyatal Rural Municipality; and Vice-Chairperson Mrs. Laxmi Kumari Adhikari.
Likewise, other notable attendees included Mr. Prem Subedi, Board Member of the National Cooperative Federation; Mr. Ganga Acharya, Under Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Government of Nepal; Mr. Sridhar Gyawali, Under Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Technology and Land Management, Government of Lumbini Province; Mr. Sagar Dhakal, Chief of the Integrated Agriculture and Livestock Development Office, Bardiya; Mr. Binod Ghimire, Chief of Babai Agriculture Knowledge Center; Mr. Binod Gyawali, Officer at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Kathmandu; and Mr. Bishal Tuladhar, Branch Manager of the Sana Kisan Bikas Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Ltd. (SKBBL), Nepalgunj.
Representatives from NACCFL and FAO shared that the project aims to strengthen food and nutrition security, empower smallholder farmers through diverse income-generating activities, and lay the foundation for sustainable community development. The project will particularly prioritize food-insecure, vulnerable, and marginalized groups.
The workshop is expected to enhance multisectoral collaboration and coordination for the effective implementation of the project.
