• Address : Kathamandu
• Profession : Professor
• Mail : chairperson@hicast.edu.np
• Fax : (+977) 561230256

The original idea of establishing HICAST was that of Dr. Rajbhandari. He devoted his two years (1998-2000) for convincing his fellows and government authorities about the viability of 3P approach to establish such a college as a public-private entity. His idea was realized only in June 2000. Today couple of colleges of agricultural sciences have been established inside and outside of Kathmandu valley following the approach of HICAST. We have been advocating that every district must have an Agricultural College.

The challenges that small developing countries like Nepal have been facing today include hunger, poverty, depletion of natural resources, discriminatory access and control to available natural resources and opportunities. The country, where majority of the population have been engaged in agriculture, has to find out solution to cope with these challenges through agricultural development. However, we have not seen any remarkable positive changes during the past few decades. Obviously, we need equip our new generation with a new vision, information and skills to manage the natural resources, indigenous knowledge and traditional technology and human resource to address the problems associated with poverty, food insecurity, climate change, ecosystems, unexpectedly slow economic growth and prevailing socio-economic discrimination for transforming our country into a New Nepal. Keeping these points in mind, we have founded Himalayan College of Agricultural Sciences & Technology (HICAST) employing public-private partnership (3P) approach to bring about the anticipated change in our vision, attitude, living standard and national dignity. It is in this background that our voice is for Agricultural Revolution through Quality Education.

HICAST is committed to ensure the quality of education that is offered to its graduates. We have just produced some 500 plus graduates both bachelors and masters degree holders; and we feel encouraged that they have exhibited excellent performance in the field of their work. Some of them have been pursuing higher studies in USA, UK, The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Austria, Norway, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Newzeland, China, and India in full scholarships. Some of the HICASTians have already returned back to Nepal after completing higher studies; and have been working with various national and international organizations quite successfully. Quite a good number of HICAST graduates have also joined Government service; and they have been working in different districts and projects of Nepal.

It is a matter of pleasure for us to mention that HICAST has signed MoUs with many Governmental Organisations (GOs) under the Ministry of Agricultural Development, I/NGOs and private organisations as well as the universities abroad. Besides academic programs, HICAST has been conducting research, training and out-reach activities and services like mobile veterinary camps as well as awareness campaigns in different parts of the country. HICAST has a good collective of highly experienced resource persons in the field of agriculture, livestock and veterinary science as well as food processing technology including dairy and meat technology.

I would like to thank you for your time and interest to know more about HICAST – the premier agricultural college of Nepal situated in the capital city.