Kathmandu-
A ten-day training program focused on agricultural machinery repair and maintenance commenced on September 3, 2024, in Bharatpur, Chitwan. The initiative, aimed at boosting agricultural mechanization, is being conducted through a collaboration between the Nepal Agricultural Machinery Entrepreneurs Association (NAMEA) and the Feed the Future Nepal USAID Agricultural Inputs Project.
The training, which brings together 25 participants from districts including Bara, Parsa, Makwanpur, Dhading, Chitwan, and Nawalparasi West, features 40 sessions in total, comprising 10 theoretical and 30 practical lessons. Participants were selected based on criteria such as being migrant returnees, women, marginalized groups, and youth with a foundational understanding of machinery.
Sunita Nhemaphuki, Vice President of NAMEA, highlighted that the program’s objective is to promote sustainable agricultural mechanization by equipping local technicians with the skills needed to service and maintain equipment. She also noted that two additional training sessions will be held in Nepalgunj and Dhangadhi, which are also backed by the Feed the Future Nepal USAID Agricultural Inputs Project. These sessions are expected to upskill another 50 mechanics.
Despite the government’s focus on expanding agricultural technology, Nhemaphuki stressed that the development of local technical expertise has been slow, urging the private sector to step in and fill the gap. Krishna Sharma, President of NAMEA, added that the long-term goal is to establish at least one agricultural machinery workshop in every municipality.
“For the past two decades, Nepal has seen significant progress in agricultural technology, yet the availability of skilled technicians for machinery repair has lagged behind,” said Sharma. “This training program is our effort to address this gap and make a meaningful contribution to the agricultural sector.”
Narayan Kumar Shrestha, head of the Agricultural Training Center under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development in Bagmati Province, attended the inauguration and emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting such initiatives. He encouraged participants to apply their skills to enhance agricultural development at the grassroots level.
Mahesh Regmi, head of the Prime Minister’s Agriculture Modernization Project’s Project Implementation Unit in Chitwan, affirmed that efforts to promote mechanization in agriculture would continue. Similarly, Jhalak Kandel, head of the Agriculture Development Office, stressed that the presence of skilled technicians would be instrumental in supporting Chitwan’s agriculture, given its fertile land.
Surya Prasad Neupane, President of the Chitwan Industry Association, highlighted the importance of agricultural technicians in fostering agricultural entrepreneurship. The President of the Banana Producers Federation also expressed optimism, stating that once trained technicians enter the market, farmers’ machinery will no longer remain idle.
