On the afternoon of January 9^th, 2024, China Foundation for Rural Development successfully hold a ceremony for vegetables entering the market in Dakoso Sustainable Development Demonstration Village in Nepal. More than 60 people attended the ceremony, including Mr. Ratac Resnak, Chairman of the second village of Dakoso, Ms. Miratmaritba, Director of Dakoso Agricultural Bureau, Mr. Mahazeng, Chairman of Bagmati Provincial Agricultural Federation, Chairman of the local agricultural sales company, and representatives of the Nepal Office of China Rural Development Foundation.

The scene of ceremony for vegetables entering the market

Nepalese Youth Vocational Training Program is supported by Enlai Foundation. Vegetables entering the market this time are all planted by students in the program. When agricultural expert in China investigated in Dakoso at the end of 2023, the expert recognized the vegetables planted by students were plump to enter the market. The first batch of vegetables to be marketed includes 300 kg of cauliflower, 500 kg of greens, 140 kg of tomatoes, 100 kg of potatoes and 100 kg of other vegetables.

Students in the program are picking vegetables

Chairman of the second village of Dakoso, Latac Resnac, made a speech in the ceremony: “The program by China Foundation for Rural Development is very effective. Beneficiaries in the program planted various kinds of vegetables under the guidance of trainers which won the recognition of market. At the same time, many vegetable buyers came to purchase our vegetables, which had encouraged students to plant autonomously to a great extent. We ever organized agricultural planting training before but was not so popular as this one. Now China Foundation for Rural Development is conducting the third phase of training, and a plenty of people have applied, which indicates the success of Nepalese Youth Vocational Training Program by China Foundation for Rural Development. China Foundation for Rural Development had sufficient communication and cooperation with our local government and brought vegetable buyers. The two sides signed a cooperation agreement to help the development of farmers in the community. I think it is a successful example of cooperation between non-governmental organization and local government. Thanks for help from donators.”

The scene of ceremony for vegetables entering the market

Mr. Mahazen, Chairman of the Bagmati Provincial Agricultural Federation said, “Presently there are 80 beneficiaries in Dakoso participating the Nepalese Youth Vocational Training Program organized by China Foundation for Rural Development. Chinese agricultural expert has a high evaluation on vegetables planted by students in the program. The ceremony for vegetables entering the market signifies the beginning of a new chapter in Nepalese agricultural sustainable development. Fresh vegetables entering the market is a sustainable achievement for the training in program provided by China Foundation for Rural Development and Enlai Foundation.”

The representative from vegetable sales company in Kathmandu, very satisfied with the vegetables planted by students in the program, said that it was only a start and we could expect a future when Nepalese organic vegetables would be exported to Middle East countries and promoted to the world.

Vegetable buyers bought vegetables from students in the program

Vegetable buyers weighted the vegetables bought

Project background:

In order to improve the sustainability of Nepalese villages, China Foundation for Rural Development initiated the “Sustainable Development Demonstration Village in Nepal” project in Dakoso, Nepal in the Kathmandu Valley on May 29^th, 2023. In the area of Dakoso, the Sustainable Development Demonstration Village Project initiated Village Water Program which benefited 4500 households and Smiling Children Program in 16 schools, provided training courses on vegetables planting skills for local youth and distributed Panda Pack to students. These programs in our foundation are mainly about the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals including poverty eradication, zero hunger, quality education, health and well-being, clean water, decent work etc. The ceremony for vegetables entering the market is the youth vocational training program in Dakoso Sustainable Development Demonstration Village. The program aims at cultivating the vegetable off-season planting skills to help farmers increase the yield and income in condition of vegetables shortage in the Kathmandu Valley. At the same time, it connected local vegetable buyers to support agricultural development in Dakoso.

Opening ceremony for Youth Vocational Training Program

Beneficiaries of the program took classes in the field