Nepal's Minister for Education and Sports, Sasmit Pokharel, announced during the 5th AFU convocation that the government is systematically working to improve the agricultural sector through scientific advancement and technological integration. Highlighting agriculture as the economy's backbone, officials urged 2,193 new graduates to lead agribusiness entrepreneurship.
CHITWAN, NEPAL — The Government of Nepal is making coordinated, continuous efforts to advance and modernize its agrarian infrastructure, according to statements made by Minister for Education and Sports Sasmit Pokharel on Saturday, June 20, 2026. Speaking during the fifth convocation ceremony of the Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU) in Chitwan, Minister Pokharel emphasized that the country’s long-term economic stability and future development rely heavily on improving the agricultural sector.
The policy disclosure is highly significant for the South Asian nation today, as the administration moves to align academic research, modern technology, and state funding to boost local food security and reduce deep structural dependencies on commodity imports.
Technical Innovation and Skilled Human Capital Key to Progress
Addressing the graduating body in his official capacity as the Pro-Chancellor of the university, Minister Pokharel outlined the government's current multi-sector approach to reforming rural economies. He emphasized that scientific advancement, localized technological integration, and a steady pipeline of highly skilled human resources are the core elements needed to upgrade traditional farming practices.
According to administrative statistics shared during the ceremony, a total of 2,193 students successfully graduated across various academic levels. The current cohort includes 1,836 bachelor's degree recipients, 327 master's degree graduates, and 30 doctoral scholars. The government plans to leverage this newly certified base of agricultural specialists, livestock managers, and forestry experts to deploy evidence-based techniques directly into provincial farming cooperatives.
Call for Entrepreneurship Over Traditional Job-Seeking
The event also focused on shifting the economic mindset of the country's youth from dependency on foreign employment to local innovation. Agriculture and Forestry University Vice-Chancellor Professor Hom Bahadur Basnet directly urged the graduating class to establish themselves as active job creators rather than job seekers. By utilizing university-acquired research capacities in fields like animal husbandry and natural resource management, graduates are expected to lead high-yield startup ventures.
The convocation also highlighted international academic collaboration across the subcontinent. Serving as the chief guest, Professor Saket Kushwaha, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ladakh in India, spoke on the shared cultural, philosophical, and knowledge traditions that link the two neighboring countries, framing modern scientific education as a vital tool for community transformation.
Resolving Grant Inefficiencies to Support Grassroots Farmers
The commitment to improving the agricultural sector coincides with a broader legislative sweep aimed at cleaning up financial bottlenecks in farming subsidies. The agricultural domain contributes nearly 25 percent to Nepal's gross domestic product (GDP) but has historically struggled with sub-optimal resource allocation. To remedy this, the state has recently formed a five-member specialized task force to closely audit all agricultural and livestock grants released over the past decade.
This regulatory review is designed to map out past instances of grant misuse and establish a transparent, digital distribution architecture. For the everyday farmer, these parallel reforms mean that future state subsidies for fertilizers, mechanical tools, and high-quality seeds will bypass political middlemen, flowing directly into verified rural enterprises.
Official Sources Section
The data concerning student graduation statistics, institutional roles, and educational policies are validated by the registrar's desk of the Agriculture and Forestry University. Macroeconomic variables and agricultural reform strategies correspond to official gazettes distributed by the Government of Nepal and reported via state news channels.
Quote Section
In his official address regarding state obligations and civic duty, Minister Sasmit Pokharel stated to the assembly:
"The country's future depends entirely on the development of agriculture, and the government is making continuous efforts to advance the sector. I urge graduates to view their academic degrees not just as certificates but as deep responsibilities toward the nation, society, and future generations."
Why It Matters
For smallholder farmers and local consumers, a structured state push toward scientific agriculture helps cushion the local markets against unpredictable climate events and global supply chain shocks. On an economic scale, transforming the agricultural sector into an entrepreneurial hub creates viable regional employment pathways, slowing down the youth brain drain while strengthening national food sovereignty.
Key Facts at a Glance
The Declaration: Minister Sasmit Pokharel confirmed the government is prioritizing key structural reforms to optimize the national agricultural sector.
Academic Milestone: The 5th AFU convocation successfully graduated 2,193 students across bachelor's, master's, and PhD cohorts.
Economic Footprint: The broader agricultural matrix represents approximately 25 percent of Nepal's total gross domestic product.
Audit Enforcement: A new 5-member administrative task force has been deployed to investigate a decade of agricultural grants to protect smallholders.
Cross-Border Exchange: The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ladakh, Professor Saket Kushwaha, participated as the event's chief guest.
FAQ Section
Q: Who is Minister Pokharel and what is his role in agricultural planning?
A: Sasmit Pokharel serves as Nepal's Minister for Education and Sports, as well as the Pro-Chancellor of the Agriculture and Forestry University, where he coordinates higher education goals with national economic development strategies.
Q: What are the primary focus areas of the current agricultural reforms?
A: The state's primary focus areas include integrating modern technology, deploying skilled university graduates to rural cooperatives, encouraging agribusiness startups, and auditing subsidy programs to eliminate corruption.
Q: How many students graduated from the Agriculture and Forestry University this session?
A: A total of 2,193 students graduated, which includes 1,836 bachelor's degrees, 327 master's degrees, and 30 doctoral (PhD) degrees.
Source: Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU) Registry, Radio Nepal Official State Broadcast, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.
