This paper attempts to review the agriculture extension service and knowledge dissemination
system in Nepal. identify changing environment for extension, scan the present scenario of
extension and knowledge dissemination, illustrate government policy, gauge problems and dig
out issues and recommend for improved extension and knowledge dissemination for Nepalese
farmers in changed context. Public extension system has been found dominant over the past 6
decades. The frequently changing public extension organization lacks stability in the extension
modality and is posed with problems and issues for its capacity to provide service and
knowledge in the changed context. The shifting emphasis towards commercialization,
diversification, sustainable and inclusive development and changing business environment for
agriculture at nation and global level demands revie:vv of existing extension system. The
government policy for extension has not just to identify the pluralistic approach but should
implement well by recognizing and utilizing the expertise of different service providers in the
country. Majority of farmers charge public as well as private organization for not being
effective and efficient and even in catering their need for solving their problems. This demands
dynamism in the existing extension organization. Supply driven, inadequate physical facilities,
wider command area. inadequate communication with farmers, poor motivation on the part of
extension personnel. lack of clear cut job responsibility, technical competency and imidequate
monitoring as well as evaluation have been identified as major problems in extension whereas
extension service in diversities, capacity enhancement of extension staff, duplication of
command area among service providers, low service coverage, devolution of extension service
, emerging global concerns in extension, subsidy matter as well as implementation ofNAES are
major issues concerned. Similarly, timely dissemination, quality of expertise service,
mobilization and utilization of concerned media. forum and approach has been reported as
issues in knowledge dissemination. For greater effectiveness, institutional reform, clarification
of strategic objective, empowerment of farmers. enhanced linkage among stakeholders and use
of participatory and user friendly approaches along with enhanced IT is recommended.

This paper attempts to review the agriculture extension service and knowledge dissemination
system in Nepal. identify changing environment for extension, scan the present scenario of
extension and knowledge dissemination, illustrate government policy, gauge problems and dig
out issues and recommend for improved extension and knowledge dissemination for Nepalese
farmers in changed context. Public extension system has been found dominant over the past 6
decades. The frequently changing public extension organization lacks stability in the extension
modality and is posed with problems and issues for its capacity to provide service and
knowledge in the changed context. The shifting emphasis towards commercialization,
diversification, sustainable and inclusive development and changing business environment for
agriculture at nation and global level demands revie:vv of existing extension system. The
government policy for extension has not just to identify the pluralistic approach but should
implement well by recognizing and utilizing the expertise of different service providers in the
country. Majority of farmers charge public as well as private organization for not being
effective and efficient and even in catering their need for solving their problems. This demands
dynamism in the existing extension organization. Supply driven, inadequate physical facilities,
wider command area. inadequate communication with farmers, poor motivation on the part of
extension personnel. lack of clear cut job responsibility, technical competency and imidequate
monitoring as well as evaluation have been identified as major problems in extension whereas
extension service in diversities, capacity enhancement of extension staff, duplication of
command area among service providers, low service coverage, devolution of extension service
, emerging global concerns in extension, subsidy matter as well as implementation ofNAES are
major issues concerned. Similarly, timely dissemination, quality of expertise service,
mobilization and utilization of concerned media. forum and approach has been reported as
issues in knowledge dissemination. For greater effectiveness, institutional reform, clarification
of strategic objective, empowerment of farmers. enhanced linkage among stakeholders and use
of participatory and user friendly approaches along with enhanced IT is recommended.

This paper attempts to review the agriculture extension service and knowledge dissemination
system in Nepal. identify changing environment for extension, scan the present scenario of
extension and knowledge dissemination, illustrate government policy, gauge problems and dig
out issues and recommend for improved extension and knowledge dissemination for Nepalese
farmers in changed context. Public extension system has been found dominant over the past 6
decades. The frequently changing public extension organization lacks stability in the extension
modality and is posed with problems and issues for its capacity to provide service and
knowledge in the changed context. The shifting emphasis towards commercialization,
diversification, sustainable and inclusive development and changing business environment for
agriculture at nation and global level demands revie:vv of existing extension system. The
government policy for extension has not just to identify the pluralistic approach but should
implement well by recognizing and utilizing the expertise of different service providers in the
country. Majority of farmers charge public as well as private organization for not being
effective and efficient and even in catering their need for solving their problems. This demands
dynamism in the existing extension organization. Supply driven, inadequate physical facilities,
wider command area. inadequate communication with farmers, poor motivation on the part of
extension personnel. lack of clear cut job responsibility, technical competency and imidequate
monitoring as well as evaluation have been identified as major problems in extension whereas
extension service in diversities, capacity enhancement of extension staff, duplication of
command area among service providers, low service coverage, devolution of extension service
, emerging global concerns in extension, subsidy matter as well as implementation ofNAES are
major issues concerned. Similarly, timely dissemination, quality of expertise service,
mobilization and utilization of concerned media. forum and approach has been reported as
issues in knowledge dissemination. For greater effectiveness, institutional reform, clarification
of strategic objective, empowerment of farmers. enhanced linkage among stakeholders and use
of participatory and user friendly approaches along with enhanced IT is recommended.

This paper attempts to review the agriculture extension service and knowledge dissemination
system in Nepal. identify changing environment for extension, scan the present scenario of
extension and knowledge dissemination, illustrate government policy, gauge problems and dig
out issues and recommend for improved extension and knowledge dissemination for Nepalese
farmers in changed context. Public extension system has been found dominant over the past 6
decades. The frequently changing public extension organization lacks stability in the extension
modality and is posed with problems and issues for its capacity to provide service and
knowledge in the changed context. The shifting emphasis towards commercialization,
diversification, sustainable and inclusive development and changing business environment for
agriculture at nation and global level demands revie:vv of existing extension system. The
government policy for extension has not just to identify the pluralistic approach but should
implement well by recognizing and utilizing the expertise of different service providers in the
country. Majority of farmers charge public as well as private organization for not being
effective and efficient and even in catering their need for solving their problems. This demands
dynamism in the existing extension organization. Supply driven, inadequate physical facilities,
wider command area. inadequate communication with farmers, poor motivation on the part of
extension personnel. lack of clear cut job responsibility, technical competency and imidequate
monitoring as well as evaluation have been identified as major problems in extension whereas
extension service in diversities, capacity enhancement of extension staff, duplication of
command area among service providers, low service coverage, devolution of extension service
, emerging global concerns in extension, subsidy matter as well as implementation ofNAES are
major issues concerned. Similarly, timely dissemination, quality of expertise service,
mobilization and utilization of concerned media. forum and approach has been reported as
issues in knowledge dissemination. For greater effectiveness, institutional reform, clarification
of strategic objective, empowerment of farmers. enhanced linkage among stakeholders and use
of participatory and user friendly approaches along with enhanced IT is recommended.

Micro-Enterprise Development Programme (MEDEP) was piloted for five years from
1998 to 2003 in I 0 selected districts of the count1y by Minist1y of Industry (MOl),
Government of Nepal, with the technical and financial supports of the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP). The main goal of this project was poverty alleviation
through micro-enterprise development creating rural employments. With the success of
this pilot phase in poverty alleviation GON and the UNDP extended this project into the
second. expanding in an additional 15 districts the second with the supports from the
UNDP and other donors such as Department for International Development (DFID) of
the UK Government. Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and
New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAID) for four years from 2004
to 2007. Currently, the project is in its third phase which is being implemented in 36
districts with the support ofGON. the UNDP and AusAID.
The project has included a diverse group of target groups mainly low income families and
socially excluded communities such as Women, Unemployed Youths, Dalits
(untouchable caste), Indigenous Nationalities (Janajatis), Other Castes, Madhesis,
Religious Minorities such as Muslims, Conflict and Disaster Affected Families,
HIV/AIDS and Injecting Drug Users. The project has applied stringent selection criteria
to select these target groups and followed an integrated ·approach of business
development services (BDS) in sequential order to support and promote these poor and
excluded to become a successful entrepreneur. The BDS provided by the project are
social mobilisation for enterprise development. entrepreneurship development through
Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) and International Labour Organisation (ILO)
package of entrepreneurship development replicated in more than 100 countries, skills
development training, linkage to financial institutes for access to credit, support for
accessing appropriated technology. market promotion of products and services and
business counselling,
As of October 2099 the project has created about 41,098 micro-entrepreneurs in the main
sectors such as agro-based, forest based, non farm based, artisan based, service based,
tourism based, etc. enterprises. Among them 68 percent women, 21 percent are Dalits, 42
percent are Indigenous Nationalities and remaining 37 percent other higher castes. The
project has generated employment to more than 46,000 employment in the rural areas.
The average per capita income of the targeted groups has increased by 264 percent and
the total profit generated by these entrepreneurs is NRs. 1,886,000,0000 (US $
25,486.486). Issues and Challenges and Approach/Strategy for Greater Rural
Employment Generation are discussed.

Micro-Enterprise Development Programme (MEDEP) was piloted for five years from
1998 to 2003 in I 0 selected districts of the count1y by Minist1y of Industry (MOl),
Government of Nepal, with the technical and financial supports of the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP). The main goal of this project was poverty alleviation
through micro-enterprise development creating rural employments. With the success of
this pilot phase in poverty alleviation GON and the UNDP extended this project into the
second. expanding in an additional 15 districts the second with the supports from the
UNDP and other donors such as Department for International Development (DFID) of
the UK Government. Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and
New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAID) for four years from 2004
to 2007. Currently, the project is in its third phase which is being implemented in 36
districts with the support ofGON. the UNDP and AusAID.
The project has included a diverse group of target groups mainly low income families and
socially excluded communities such as Women, Unemployed Youths, Dalits
(untouchable caste), Indigenous Nationalities (Janajatis), Other Castes, Madhesis,
Religious Minorities such as Muslims, Conflict and Disaster Affected Families,
HIV/AIDS and Injecting Drug Users. The project has applied stringent selection criteria
to select these target groups and followed an integrated ·approach of business
development services (BDS) in sequential order to support and promote these poor and
excluded to become a successful entrepreneur. The BDS provided by the project are
social mobilisation for enterprise development. entrepreneurship development through
Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) and International Labour Organisation (ILO)
package of entrepreneurship development replicated in more than 100 countries, skills
development training, linkage to financial institutes for access to credit, support for
accessing appropriated technology. market promotion of products and services and
business counselling,
As of October 2099 the project has created about 41,098 micro-entrepreneurs in the main
sectors such as agro-based, forest based, non farm based, artisan based, service based,
tourism based, etc. enterprises. Among them 68 percent women, 21 percent are Dalits, 42
percent are Indigenous Nationalities and remaining 37 percent other higher castes. The
project has generated employment to more than 46,000 employment in the rural areas.
The average per capita income of the targeted groups has increased by 264 percent and
the total profit generated by these entrepreneurs is NRs. 1,886,000,0000 (US $
25,486.486). Issues and Challenges and Approach/Strategy for Greater Rural
Employment Generation are discussed.

Tea is one of the exportable commodities of Nepal. Tea cultivation is a labour intensive .
agri-business and plays a multi dimensional role in income generation, fostering
industrial and environmental protection. It is estimated that about 70 thousand people are
•employed and 9 thousand families are involved in tea industry in which 60% are women.
It contributes more than 0.14% to AGDP. The production and area under tea plantation
are in increasing trend. Although high numbers of private and public organizations are
involved in tea industry, Nepalese tea industry is running in much slower pace compared
to its competitors. The demand of tea is burgeoning worldwide due to its non-alcoholic
and medicinal value. Although, the tea industry posses a bright scope in uplifting
economic condition of people and nation. But the R&D policy and program
implementation modality of tea industry needs restructuring for improvement of
production, productivity and quality tea to compete fast changing global market. National
Tea Research Institute (NTRI) needs to be set up for high quality tea production in
sustainable way. This paper focuses on various existing issues on tea R&D and highlights
some new thoughts for exploiting its full potentiality for economic growth of the nation
and improving living standard of rural people.

Tea is one of the exportable commodities of Nepal. Tea cultivation is a labour intensive .
agri-business and plays a multi dimensional role in income generation, fostering
industrial and environmental protection. It is estimated that about 70 thousand people are
•employed and 9 thousand families are involved in tea industry in which 60% are women.
It contributes more than 0.14% to AGDP. The production and area under tea plantation
are in increasing trend. Although high numbers of private and public organizations are
involved in tea industry, Nepalese tea industry is running in much slower pace compared
to its competitors. The demand of tea is burgeoning worldwide due to its non-alcoholic
and medicinal value. Although, the tea industry posses a bright scope in uplifting
economic condition of people and nation. But the R&D policy and program
implementation modality of tea industry needs restructuring for improvement of
production, productivity and quality tea to compete fast changing global market. National
Tea Research Institute (NTRI) needs to be set up for high quality tea production in
sustainable way. This paper focuses on various existing issues on tea R&D and highlights
some new thoughts for exploiting its full potentiality for economic growth of the nation
and improving living standard of rural people.