ABSTRACT

Nepal has varied agro-ecological regions where enumerable horticultural plant species are available. The commercialization of these crops requires appropriate production techniques based on the soil and climatic situation of Nepal and its various regions. Realizing these facts a need of manpower development in horticulture was felt by the government of Nepal. As a result, horticultural education (as a short-term training) was started in nurseries and gardens as early as 1937 A.D. However, the formal, one year course program was started in 1957 when the School of Agriculture was established. At present, many academic and non-academic institutions have come up for giving horticultural education and developing skilled manpower in this field. Institutions which give academic horticultural education are the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science of Tribhuvan University (TU), the Faculty of Agriculture of Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU), the Himalayan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (HICAST) of Purbanchal University, Mahendra Ratna Multiple Campus, Illam/TU, Gokuleshwor Agriculture College/T, College of Live Science/TU, Prithu Technical College/TU, Nepal Polytechnique Institute, and the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) through its technical schools and affiliated colleges. Many of the non-academic institutions which run training courses in horticulture are ATD, FDD, VDD, NARC, NGOs, INGOs, Private Farms and Institutions, etc. This paper presents a brief information about these academic and non-academic institutions along with some recommendations for improving horticultural education.