KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 10
The Embassy of Israel together with the Avsar Foundation hosted the 2nd annual Krishi Tara Award in Kathmandu, on Thursday.
The event was held after a hiatus of two years.
Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Mahindra Raya Yadav, was the Chief Guest of Honor at the occasion.
According to the statement issued by the Israeli embassy, the award function was held to honour deserving Nepali farmers/agri-entrepreneurs who have been purposefully contributing in agriculture with technologies, innovations and skills learnt in Israel, upon returning from a yearlong advanced agricultural training under “Learn and Earn Program.”
Ten best agriculture farms were shortlisted from among the total applications received for the award. The winner was selected by a jury of three judges.
Uddha Prasad Neupane was the winner of the second Krishi Tara and was awarded a cheque of Rs 500,000 along with the winner’s certificate. He was in Israel from 2012-2013.
“It’s lovely to celebrate Agriculture, Krishi ra Khusi,” remarked Hanan Goder, Ambassador of Israel to Nepal, speaking at the occasion. “We see today an amazing collection of good and happy farmers. Nepal can become a net exporter of food and Israel is willing to share our experiences in this field.”
“I really appreciate and would like to thank the State of Israel for the contribution in the field of agriculture by taking our Nepali farmers to Israel and providing them with skills, modern technologies so that they can become self-reliant,” Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Development Mahindra Raya Yadav said during the function. “We have to further promote the Israeli agri-technology in Nepal. If it happens, it would have greater impact on Nepali agriculture. This program actually motivates and boosts the morale of young farmers.”
Sharing the experience, the winning farmer Uddha Prasad Neupane from Dhading said, “After returning from Israel, I realized that agriculture is a profession and have to be done by young and educated people. I have started with 16 ropanis of land and now, I have extended it to 70 ropanis of land. Upon receiving the award, I felt that more responsibilities and challenges have been bestowed upon me. I will be utilizing this money in the field of agriculture and start a nursery.”
The First Krishi Tara Awards was held in 2019.
More than three thousand students from marginalized farmer families have been trained in Israel in modern agriculture since 2012. After returning to Nepal, these students have been involved in high-tech agriculture using a greenhouse, drip irrigation, etc.