The Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) and Nepal Farmers Advisory Council (NFAC) Pvt. Ltd. have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on December 8, 2024, to collaborate on advancing agribusiness and rural development initiatives in Nepal. The MoU was formalized by HE Dr. P. Chandra Shekara, Director General of CIRDAP, and Dr. Yogendra Kumar Karki, Chairman of NFAC.

This partnership aims to enhance technical support, capacity building, and the implementation of climate-smart agricultural practices. Under the agreement, CIRDAP will facilitate international knowledge exchange and exposure for Nepalese agricultural stakeholders, focusing on climate-smart agriculture (CSA) and e-agriculture. Meanwhile, NFAC will collaborate with various levels of government in Nepal to ensure the effective rollout of projects.

This five-year collaboration is expected to improve the livelihoods of marginalized farmers in Nepal, particularly by introducing innovative rural development models and ensuring integration with local government initiatives.