"A National Workshop on Biotechnology and Development Concerns in Nepal" Successfully Held
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A National Workshop on Biotechnology and Development Concerns in Nepal
was successfully held on 21st August 2009 jointly organized by
Biotechnology Society of Nepal (BSN), South Asia Watch on Trade,
Economics & Environment (SAWTEE) and Local Initiatives for
Biodiversity, Research and Development (LI-BIRD). The workshop held at
Hotel Everest, Kathmandu was enthusiastically attended by sixty
participants representing different sectors of biology, academic
bodies, government and non-government bodies, and private
organizations.
The objective of the workshop was to introduce the prospective of
biotechnology in different fields like agriculture, food, health,
biopharmaceuticals and biological production in Nepal. The program
also focused on, intellectual property rights, technology transfer,
community rights, and farmers' participation in agricultural
biotechnology and also on understanding the policy and strategies
related to biotechnology.
The workshop was divided into four sessions with different themes. In
the inaugural session, Mr. Puspa Sharma (Program coordinator, SAWTEE)
delivered his welcome speech and presented highlights of the program.
Dr. Posh Raj Pandey (President, SAWTEE) who chaired the program,
defined biotechnology as technology for human welfare. He opined that
in country like Nepal acquiring known technology is better than
hunting for a new one. Mr. Tara Lama (Program Director, LI-BIRD)
advocated on access to benefit sharing by related community. Likewise,
Prof. Dr. Hom Nath Bhattarai (Vice chancellor, NAST) said good
policies should be introduced and implemented for the success in
Nepalese scientific field. He highlighted some of the constraints of
Nepal government in adopting new technologies. Dr. Puskar Bajracharya
(Hon'ble member, National Planning Commission) emphasized that
biotechnology can decrease trade deficit Nepal has been facing.
Concluding remarks of the session and vote of thanks was delivered by
Mr. Ravi Bhandari (Vice-President, BSN).
In the following sessions, presentations on introduction to
biotechnology and recombinant DNA technology were delivered by BSN
team and Dr. Arti Pandey from Kathmandu Medical College respectively.
The status of biotechnology in Nepal, research works carried out in
different sectors such as agriculture, livestock and biological
production, food technology and biopharmaceuticals was delivered by
Dr. Hari P.Bimb (NARC), Dr. Sudarson Pd Gautam (CBPL), Dr. Tika Bdr.
Karki (Kathmandu University) and Dr. Pramod Aryal (Everest Biotech)
respectively. Dr. Mukunda Ranjit, Professor Dr. VP Agrawal and Dr.
Hari Krishna Sainju highlighted different prospects of biotechnology
as chair-persons. Discussions were held on different constraints Nepal
has been facing and measures to be taken for active progression in the
field of biotechnology. Overall program was focused on measures to be
taken to adopt agricultural biotechnology as a farmer friendly and
environment friendly technologies.
