Higher Agriculture Education in Nepal and its Relevancy to Nepalese farmers

• Main Authors: Pramila Dhakal, 潘琳雅
• Other Authors: Dr. Israel Bau Jen Jiang
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2012
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/73062059922651898407

碩士 === 國立中興大學 === 國際農學研究所 === 100 === Agriculture education is the principal source of skilled human resources for agriculture sector. In Nepal, Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS) under Tribhuvan University is currently the only one leading public institute providing higher agriculture education. Considering an input-process-output (IPO) framework, this study examined the present status of higher agriculture education (HAE) and analyzed its relevancy to Nepalese farmers. The data were collected by using semi-structured interview, focus group discussion and reviewing the reports and related documents. The findings reveal that in providing quality education, HAE of Nepal was confronted with problems like lack of coherent policy, inadequate infrastructures and facilities, low faculty- student ratio, insufficient financing, lack of publications and references materials in national language, exodus of teaching staff and over relying on traditional teaching pedagogy. Similarly, due to improper coordination and communication among agriculture education institutions, research institutions, and extension institutions; imparting relevant education through higher agriculture education institutions (HAEIs) has been limited. This situation was further aggravated by inadequate local content in curriculum, lack of community based program in teaching methods, low number of nationally related teaching materials and publications, and high enrolment of student only from the urban areas. Thus, to make higher agriculture education more responsive and relevant, development and implementation of teaching programs and curriculum that are relevant to production needs and employment demands of agriculture sector of the country is required. Recommendations are given for strengthening higher agriculture education and increase its relevancy to Nepalese agriculture development.