On September 26, 2024, a donation ceremony for a local agricultural post-harvest collection center and transport vehicles was held in the Manekharka area of Panchpokhari Thangpal Rural Municipality, Nepal. This event was organized as part of the "Project for Integrated Rural Development through Strengthening Health and Income Generation in Nepal (2020-2025 / $4.7 million)," supported by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA, Chairman Chang Won-sam) and implemented by Korea Institute for Development Strategy (KDS, Chairman Chun Seung-hun).

The ceremony was attended by approximately 70 participants, including representatives from the KOICA Nepal Office, the KDS-Yonsei University Consortium, local partners SAHAMATI and Dhulikhel Hospital, and the heads of the three local government project sites.

To enhance the sustainability of the participating farmer organizations across the three regions, the KDS-Yonsei University Consortium donated equipment for agri-food processing. The farmer organizations plan to utilize this infrastructure throughout the entire income-generation process, including joint shipping, primary processing, productization, and marketing.

Mr. Tashi Lama, Chairman of Panchpokhari Thangpal Rural Municipality, praised the project, stating, "Through this project, the capacity of farmer organizations has improved, and the community's perception of agricultural activities has also been enhanced." He expressed his gratitude to all stakeholders involved.

Mr. Kong Moo-heon, Country Director of the KOICA Nepal Office, celebrated the project's achievements in honor of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Nepal. He expressed his appreciation for the dedication of the Nepalese partner organizations over the past five years and requested continued interest and cooperation to ensure the project's sustainability after its completion.

Scheduled to run from 2020 to 2025, the project aims to improve the quality of life for residents by strengthening community capacity, increasing income, and enhancing healthcare accessibility in rural Nepal. Key activities include: ▲ linking agricultural value chains led by farmer organizations; ▲ introducing advanced farming technologies; and ▲ improving the health environment and awareness. The KDS-Yonsei University Consortium has been responsible for the project since September 2020.

LINK : https://www.mhns.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=702121