KATHMANDU, Jan 17: Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Ram Nath Adhikari, has highlighted the integral role of women in agriculture, emphasizing the need to link women’s contributions to income generation and entrepreneurship.
Speaking at a policy dialogue program on agricultural products and natural fiber value chains organized by the Federation of Women Entrepreneurs Associations of Nepal (FWEAN) in collaboration with USAID on Friday, Minister Adhikari noted that agriculture accounts for about 26.5% of Nepal’s GDP, but its contribution is declining, with employment in the sector dropping from 75% in the 2000s to 62% by 2021. He also expressed concern about the lack of in-depth studies to identify region-specific crops, citing Nepal's geographic and seasonal diversity.
Reflecting on his personal experiences, Minister Adhikari shared how financial decision-making was traditionally dominated by men in his family, and women often lacked the autonomy to make even small purchases. “I am happy to see women moving towards self-reliance and entrepreneurship today,” he said.
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Minister Adhikari announced that necessary initiatives will be taken to increase women’s participation in upcoming policies, programs, and budgets. He stated, "It is an appropriate time to initiate dialogues for the preparation of the fiscal budget for 2081/082." He expressed satisfaction with the growing involvement of women in business, acknowledging the challenges women face, such as limited access to loans due to the lack of fixed assets under their ownership.
FWEAN President Shova Gyawali, who chaired the event, underscored the FWEAN's efforts to promote women’s entrepreneurship at local, national and international levels. She mentioned that the Made in Nepal Expo 2024 was held in Melbourne, Australia, showcasing Nepali products on a global stage.
Gyawali also called for simpler policies to facilitate the development of women entrepreneurs and emphasized the FWEAN's commitment to supporting businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Highlighting the growing reliance on imported agricultural and food products, President Gyawali underscored the urgent need for entrepreneurship development to address this challenge. She also called for in-depth research to identify suitable agricultural crops based on Nepal’s geographical and seasonal diversity.
The event featured panel discussions on agricultural and natural fiber value chains. Panelists included Mausami Shrestha, Dr. Pradyumnaraj Pandey, Dr. Yamuna Ghale, and Sita Pandey, with facilitation by Laxman Pandey. For the session on natural fiber value chains, panelists included Shyam Badan Shrestha, Nripal Adhikari and Indian entrepreneur Akshaya Shree.
The program, attended by approximately 40 women entrepreneurs, provided a platform for meaningful discussions on enhancing value chains and policy reforms aimed at empowering women in agriculture and entrepreneurship.
The program also featured FNCCI President Umesh Prasad Singh and Industrial Enterprise Development Institute (IEDI) Nepal Executive Director Umesh Kumar Gupta as special guests.
