KATHMANDU: The Embassy of Israel in Nepal together with the Avsar Foundation has declared Uddha Prasad Neupane as the winner of the 2nd Krishi Tara Award 2021 amidst a program held at Hotel Marriot, Kathmandu, on Thursday, after a hiatus of two years.

Neupane bagged a cash price of Rs 5,00,000 along with the winner’s certificate.

Speaking at the award ceremony, the Israeli Ambassador to Nepal Hanan Goder said that it’s lovely to celebrate agriculture in Nepal as “Krishi and Khusi” (agriculture and happiness). We see today an amazing collection of good and happy farmers. Nepal can become a net exporter of food and Israel is willing to share our experiences in the agricultural field, he added.

Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Development Mahindra Raya Yadav appreciated and thanked the State of Israel for its contribution to the field of agriculture by taking Nepali farmers to Israel and providing them with skills, modern technologies so that they can become self-reliant.

He also said that Nepal has to further promote the Israeli agri-technology to boost agriculture and export Nepali agricultural produce. “The program actually motivates and boosts the morale of young farmers”, the minister added.

The award function was held to honor deserving Nepali farmers/agri-entrepreneurs who have been purposefully contributing in agriculture with technologies, innovations, and skills learned in Israel, upon returning from a yearlong advanced agricultural training under the “Learn and Earn Program.”

Ten best agriculture farms were shortlisted from among the total applications received for the award.

Sharing the experience, the winning farmer Uddha Prasad Neupane, who hails from Dhading, said, “After returning from Israel, I realized that agriculture is a profession and has to be done by young and educated people.”

He was in Israel in 2012-2013. He kicked off his venture with 16 ropanis land initially and has now extended it to 70 ropanis.

“Receiving the award, I feel that more responsibilities and challenges have been bestowed upon me,” said Neupane.

He said that the amount I received from the award would be utilized in the field of agriculture, likely a nursery.

The 1st Krishi Tara Awards was held in 2019. More than three thousand students from marginalized farmer families have been trained in Israel in modern agriculture since 2012.

After returning to Nepal, they have been involved in high-tech agriculture using a greenhouse, drip irrigation.

The Embassy has collaborated with Avsar Foundation for the annual Krishi Tara Award to reward those farmers who were in Israel under the ‘Learn and Earn Program’ and are now doing exemplary work in Nepal, inspiring the youths and disseminating their learned knowledge in their community in the field of agriculture.

Avsar Foundation is the initiative of the Khetan family. It is a not-for-profit organization incorporated in Nepal with the objective of empowering economically and socially deprived individuals and communities across the country through various programs.