Capacity Building for Institute of Agriculture and Animal Sciences in Nepal ACRSP – UM/AIT Team

Background – IAAS in Nepal Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS) is located at southern part of central Nepal Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS) is located at southern part of central Nepal IAAS is the only institute for postgraduate program in agriculture and animal sciences in Nepal. IAAS is the only institute for postgraduate program in agriculture and animal sciences in Nepal. Aquaculture is the one of the departments that runs master program and started since 1999 with one student with very limited facilities (laboratory and research fields). Aquaculture is the one of the departments that runs master program and started since 1999 with one student with very limited facilities (laboratory and research fields).

ACRSP Work in Nepal As ACRSP extended its regional sites from Southeast Asia to South and Southeast Asia, IAAS started involvement in ACRSP in As ACRSP extended its regional sites from Southeast Asia to South and Southeast Asia, IAAS started involvement in ACRSP in Four research projects have been conducted in IAAS: Four research projects have been conducted in IAAS: –Polyculture of grass carp and Nile tilapia; –Integrated cage cum pond culture of sahar and carps (on-station); –Integrated cage cum pond culture of catfish and carps (on-station and on-farm); –Impact of tilapia introduction on the indigenous species of Nepal.

ACRSP Impacts: Lab facility Establish Aquaculture Lab Establish Aquaculture Lab –Oven, Muffle furnace, Water distillation set, Autoclave, Centrifuge, Electronic balance, and Deionizer column – Consumable chemicals

ACRSP Impacts: Field facility 18 cement tanks of 24 m 2 size. 18 cement tanks of 24 m 2 size. 29 earthen ponds of 100 m 2 size 29 earthen ponds of 100 m 2 size Drainage canals Drainage canals Research farm has been fenced with barbed wire and cement poles. Research farm has been fenced with barbed wire and cement poles. Farm electricity supply and lighting. Farm electricity supply and lighting.

ACRSP Impacts: Staff training HC PI (Madhav Shrestha, Department Head and IAAS Director of Research) has completed both MSc and PhD programs at AIT. HC PI (Madhav Shrestha, Department Head and IAAS Director of Research) has completed both MSc and PhD programs at AIT. One teaching staff has completed MSc program at AIT. One teaching staff has completed MSc program at AIT. One teaching staff has completed MSc program at AIT, and has conducted PhD research and is finalizing her dissertation. One teaching staff has completed MSc program at AIT, and has conducted PhD research and is finalizing her dissertation.

ACRSP Impacts: M Sc Students Six batches of MSc students (15 in total) have been graduated by now. Six batches of MSc students (15 in total) have been graduated by now. They have been able to conduct experiments and lab analyses for their thesis work, because of improved lab/field facilities by ACRSP. They have been able to conduct experiments and lab analyses for their thesis work, because of improved lab/field facilities by ACRSP.

ACRSP Impacts: Regional/International Conferences With ACRSP support, the HC PI has been able to attend several regional/international conferences such as WAS, AFS, ISTA and CAA2 to update knowledge. With ACRSP support, the HC PI has been able to attend several regional/international conferences such as WAS, AFS, ISTA and CAA2 to update knowledge.

ACRSP: Conclusion ACRSP has been the instrumental to IAAS aquaculture department in capacity building in research, research facilities and ultimately in quality education. ACRSP has been the instrumental to IAAS aquaculture department in capacity building in research, research facilities and ultimately in quality education. ACRSP is a great help to the education and development of aquaculture at IAAS and Nepal as well. ACRSP is a great help to the education and development of aquaculture at IAAS and Nepal as well.