BIRATNAGAR, Jan 2: The government of Province 1 has started preparations to establish an international standard research center in the province. It has already started to form laws to establish a regional research center.
According to Suresh Adhikari, chief secretary of Province 1, preparations are underway to establish the research center in the next fiscal year.
“Despite herbs being exported from Nepal, there has not been proper research to find out how the herbs are being utilized in the foreign markets,” he said, adding that Yarsagumba, a precious fungal herb with aphrodisiac property, is exported from Nepal, but the country doesn't know how the herb is utilized. Nepal has not been able to benefit from the precious herbs available in abundance within the country, he added.
Only 8 pc hospital & research centers conduct research
“The use of hybrid seeds has increased in the recent time. As a result, Nepal is not self sufficient in seeds,” he said, adding that the research center is necessary to produce improved breed of seeds.
According to Lilam Basnet, provincial assembly member, foreign researchers have shown a keen interest to establish a research center in the province.
“As the foreign researchers have shown interest, the provincial assembly members have requested the provincial government to establish a research center in the region,” he said.
More than 25 researchers from different parts of the world including Diwakar Acharya, professor at Oxford University, Laxmi Kumar Parajuli, professor in Japan, have pledged to support the establishment of the research center in Province 1.
According to secretary Adhikari, the research center would be able to generate its own financial resource through research. “The research center will be an autonomous organization,” he said. He further added that an estimated Rs 220 million is required to establish the research center and to purchase equipment.
Likewise, the operation of the center would cost around Rs 120 million a year. “The research center has a long-term benefit. But, it has been difficult to collect fund for the establishment of the research center in the initial stage,” he said, adding that the research center is being established as the researchers have pledged to give time for the center.
“The place has not been fixed yet to establish the research center. The land of Sericulture Development Center has been proposed to establish the research center,” Adhikari said.
