B.R. Kaini

Former Director General,Department of Agriculture,Government of Nepal
 
Corresponding email:bhairabr@gmail.com
 

Abstract

The formation of a horticulture unit in 1957 marked the beginning of horticulture organization in the government sector followed by the establishment of horticulture farms in different parts of the country in 1960s.The separation of Department of Horticulture in 1967 was another milestone.Realizing further importance of horticulture,an Assistant Minister was entrusted responsibility to look after horticulture in the Ministry of Agriculture in 1980.In addition to the public institutions,several organizations like universities,development partners,NGOs/INGOs and private are now involved in the horticultural research and development.After the introduction of a three-tier governance system in the country, a federal Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has been created as the apex body to look after agriculture sector.Some changes have also been made at the departmental organizations.The Fruit and Vegetable Development Directorates have been renamed as National Fruit Development Center and National Potato,Vegetable and Spice Crops Development Center.In the province,Horticulture Development Section is under the Agriculture Development Directorate.All 51 Agriculture Knowledge Centers and 14 horticulture Farms are placed under the provincial administration along with some Agriculture Development Units in local level.The recent restructuring has posed several challenges and gaps.Institutional linkages among central,federal and local governments have not been formed properly and the mechanism of retaining experts has been lost.So there is an urgent need to develop a mechanism of horizontal and vertical coordination among the governments of local,provincial and central level.Although NARC yet to be restructured in the context of federalization,strengthening of its horticulture wing is necessary.Similarly, strengthening and modernizing facilities and infrastructures in the existing horticulture farms/center are needed.Technically and physically strengthen government farms may be the effective practical schools for farmers where they can acquire practical knowledge.The ways forward to strength linkages among research,extension and education could be (1) joint action plan; (2) recognizing MoALD as the line ministry of AFU; and (3) developing horticultural alliances at provincial level.This paper has made an attempt to address all these gaps and issues through restructuring.

Keywords: horticulturist,organization,extension,public institution,government