A National Workshop on Sustainable Dairy Sector Development in Nepal has been jointly organized by the Department of Livestock Services and ADRA Nepal on 15 July 2025 in Lalitpur, Nepal. Dr. Deepak Kumar Kharal, Honorable Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD), chaired as the Chief guest, and Dr. Ram Nandan Tiwari, Director General, Department of Livestock Services (DLS), chaired the workshop.
The Objectives of the Workshop were:
- To provide a platform to stakeholders to disseminate successful approaches, innovations, research, and policy engagement on dairy sector development.
- To identify the priority areas and strategic interventions in the dairy sector and inform policy and practices for the development of the dairy sector.
- To build a clear, sustainable dairy sector development roadmap.
All major dairy sector actors, including the Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC), Agricultural and Forestry University (AFU), National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), Dairy Development Corporation (DDC), Dairy Industry Association (DIA), Private dairy companies, dairy cooperatives, and dairy farmers, had participated in the workshop. The workshop was supported by the TERAI project funded by Jersey Overseas Aid and ADRA UK and implemented by ADRA Nepal in partnership with IRDC Nepal and FORWARD Nepal.
Initially, an inauguration session was held with the Chief Guest digitally launching the event banner, followed by an objective sharing by Dr. Sulochana Shrestha, Deputy Director General, DLS, and Mr. Kabir Ratna Sthapit, Team Leader-Livelihood, ADRA Nepal, presenting a brief on the major achievements of the TERAI project in dairy sector development.
Afterwards, the paper presentation sessions were held where the thematic presentations were done on four major themes:
- Current Status, Challenges and Programs of Livestock Sector in Nepal presented by Dr. Rama Nandan Tiwari, Director of General, DLS.
- Status, Challenges and Approaches on Dairy Sector Development in Nepal by Dr. Balak Chaudhary, Deputy Executive Director, NDDB.
- Status of Dairy Industry, Technology, Innovations, and Export Promotion on Dairy Sector in Nepal by Mr. Niranjan Shrestha, Executive Director, Sujal Dairy, representing NDA.
- Technology And Innovation in Research for Dairy Sector Development by Dr. Neena Amatya Gorkhali, Director, National Animal Science Research Institute (NASRI) under NARC.
After completion of the thematic presentation, in-depth group discussions were done in major areas of the dairy sector, i.e.:
- Priority Areas and Strategies Intervention for Improving Milk Production, Productivity, and Implementation of Good Husbandry Practices (GHP).
- Assurance of Quality Milk and Milk Products and Enhance Value Chain Linking for Expansion of Domestic Market and Export Promotion.
- Technology And Innovation in Research for Dairy Sector Development
During the group discussions, analysis of the current situation, opportunities, and gaps were done, and strategies and interventions were drafted for each strategic area.
During the closing session, Dr. Deepak Kumar Kharal, Honorable Secretary, MoALD appreciated the participation of multi-stakeholders in the workshop for in-depth discussions and sharing for dairy sector development. He emphasized on joint efforts from all stakeholders for resource collaboration and synergy in programs. He appreciated the achievement of TERAI project on improved technologies promotion and breed development initiatives from the Jersey sexed semen and embryo transplant. Similarly, Dr. Ram Nandan Tiwari, Director General, DLS gave his sincere thanks to all stakeholders for their active participation in assessing the potential areas, strategies and interventions for dairy sector development. He added that the workshop has been successful in providing inputs towards preparing strategic road map for sustainable dairy sector development. Dr. Ghanshyam Kumar Bhatta, Program Director, ADRA Nepal, cordially thanked all honorable guests and highlighted the importance of the workshop in the growing market of the dairy sector globally.
