YPARD, YPARD Nepal & Objectives of

#NYFAED15

Presenter

Dinesh Panday

Nepal representative

• A global platform

• YPs under 40

• Active in Agricultural Development

• Multi-stakeholders

• Decentralized movement

What is YPARD?

Because youth need…

• To Participate/commit

• Access Professional opportunities

• Be given a voice

• Be interested in agricultural education

• Sustainable Agriculture = their future!

Why YPARD?

1. To facilitate the exchange of information and

knowledge among young professionals across

disciplines, professions, age and regions

2. To broaden opportunities for young professionals to

contribute to strategic ARD policy debates

3. To promote agriculture among young people

4. To facilitate access to resources and capacity

building opportunities

Objectives

Youth and experienced professionals

- Sectors

• Universities

• Research Institutions

• Donor organizations

• NGOs/CSOs

• Government agencies

• Extension

• Farmer organizations

• Private sector

Coordination offices

Global Coordination Unit

at

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Infographic: YPARD in 2014

Interaction with

1002 members

on YPARD Nepal

Facebook group

9 members (+20 volunteers)

Members from universities, research organizations, NGO,

etc.

Regular and active communication between 9 members

Ways of communication

Google group (ypardnepal@googlegroups.com),

Google email (ypardnepal@gmail.com) and

Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/ypardnepal)

Working group: Overview

1. YPARD Café and YPARD Awareness Campaign

2. Oyster Mushroom Cultivation Project

3. Farmers Field Trip

4. YPARD Nepal Family Farming Photo Contest

Collaborative activity

ICT4Ag Handprint Challenge Project

2014 Working Activities

Nepalese agriculture is undergoing rapid

changes

experienced human resources are retiring, young

professionals are taking their places, generating

wider gaps in updating agricultural research and

knowledge

the lack of adequate agricultural workers has resulted

in a growing tendency to farms fallow

adaptation to climate change has added a further

challenge

1. small but growing number of young people,

reorganizing farming into viable enterprises

through sustainable intensification and

creative marketing

challenge for agricultural development is two fold—

1. how to expand these emerging sustainable

practices,

2. how to inspire more young professionals to choose

agriculture as a professional career

innovation in agriculture represents the most

viable option for addressing youth

unemployment

to create regular forum for sharing experiences among

farmer innovators, youth entrepreneurs, agricultural

professionals and policy makers

National Youth Forum on Agro-based Entrepreneurship

Development (#NYFAED15)

To discuss the future of agro-based entrepreneurship

development in Nepal

#NYFAED15 objectives

1. Identify the steps required for wider involvement of

young professionals in promoting sustainable

intensification and profitable entrepreneurship in the

agricultural sector;

2. Chart the way forward out of mentorship programmes

for bridging research and knowledge gaps in

agricultural system;

3. Generate conceptual tools needed for wider

engagement and contribution of youth in agricultural

development.

Statistics from #NYFAED15 Online

Applicants

Message from Global Director, YPARD

Ms. Courtney Paisley

Dear attendees of the National Youth Forum on Agro-basedEntrepreneurship Development

With an expected population of 9 billion by 2050 and declining interestof youth worldwide to take up agriculture, who will feed this growingpopulation?

Agriculture has an image problem. There is decreasing interest amongyouth in entering agriculture related fields due to the persistingperception that this is an outdated area with minimal financial returns.However, as young people are exposed to new and alternative ways ofengaging in agriculture, this perception can change as newopportunities become evident in the sector.

Message from Global Director, YPARD

Ms. Courtney Paisley

YPARD was established in response to the young generation’sincreasing lack of interest in agriculture, insufficient participation ofyoung professionals in addressing critical development issues andinadequate access to resources to address these issues.

While youth are key to a sustainable agricultural sector, they areoften ignored and undervalued within it. A new approach is needed forengaging with young people, using their insight to develop innovativesolutions. Young people need to contribute to the creation of their ownfuture in agricultural development and be instrumental in making ithappen.

Congratulations on hosting such an important event, which has somevery concrete objectives. I look forward to seeing the outcomes ofthe meeting and how YPARD can take an active role.

Thank You!

www.ypard.net