KATHMANDU, JANUARY 31

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has underlined the need to exert all possible efforts to attract the students going abroad for education and employment in the home country.

In his address to the 12th general assembly of the Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU), Prime Minister Dahal stressed the need to introduce measures for creating employment opportunities and attracting students in the country.

Expressing pleasure over the rise in the enrollment of students in agriculture science, PM Dahal said the AFU should play crucial role for the development of agriculture and forestry.

Noting that the targets of production and productivity could not be attained without cooperation from university teachers, agriculture scientists, students and technicians, he said, 'Youths attraction to agriculture has not increased. They should be brought to agriculture by adopting any measures. It is to spur productivity'.

The Prime Minister further said he wished to see the effective role in the technology production through the better education, research and extension system in the future.

The country's agriculture education, research system and agriculture and forestry university also have witnessed challenges, he said, adding, 'The AFU can play crucial role for the development of agriculture and forestry'.

PM Dahal expressed happiness over the establishment and operation of eight agriculture faculties, colleges and two agriculture science centers in different provinces and suggested running educational programme in the approved colleges of Syangja and Gorkha.

He stressed the spectacular role of the university in increasing production and productivity, thereby promoting export and slashing national loss.

He said the university should provide evidence-based policy recommendations to improve economic condition and employment through scientific forestry management.

The PM underlined the need to run constructive campaign to sustainably operate teaching and research maintaining higher quality.

The AFU was established in Nepal in 2067 BS realizing the need of technical university for education and research in the areas of agriculture, livestock, veterinary, fishery and forestry.