Kathmandu, March 28

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development is preparing to introduce a youth programme worth Rs two billion for the upcoming fiscal year. The ministry has taken forth this concept targeting to attract youth in the agricultural sector and increasing employment inside the country. Similarly, another objective of the programme is to attract youths going abroad for employment.

According to the ministry, currently it is working on the first phase of the youth programme design. The programme will be a platform for both youths in the learning phase and also those who are already skilled in technical sectors. As stated in the preliminary draft prepared by the ministry, the Department of Agriculture or the ministry itself will design the production and commercialisation strategy of the products.

The preliminary draft of the youth programme has selected 10 major crops of the country in which the youth will be working on. Moreover, the programme will be operating via online system. Any interested individual can get all the information related to the programme through online service and they can fill up an online form to apply for the programme.

After the candidates are selected the ministry will provide at least three months of skill training and technical knowledge to them. The youths will be sent to their business- related agricultural farms, zones and superzones during these three months of training period. Interested candidates have to frame a business plan of their own area of work.

The selected candidates will have to submit their project details to the concerned body deployed by the ministry for the implementation of the programme.

The project details should include the nature of business, strategies of production and marketing, required area along with how to manage the land for the business.

Based on proposed project details the ministry will manage the land and other necessities to implement the project.

As a pilot project the ministry will include 1,000 youths for the project. The number could be increased in coming years.