Celebrating 22 years of research and development on agriculture and biodiversity, LI-BIRD organized ’22nd Annual General Meeting and Social Audit’ on 23 September 2016 with participation of representatives of government agencies, donors, partner organizations, private sectors, farmers and media, and LI-BIRD Found Members, Executive Board Members, General Members and Staff.
Shedding light on the upcoming strategy of LI-BIRD (2017-21), Dr. Balaram Thapa, Executive Director of LI-BIRD, briefed about the organization. Dr. Ram Bahadur Rana, Director of Programme Operations, presented on LI-BIRD’s key achievements and initiatives. Similarly, Mr. Bharat Bhandari, Deputy Director of Programme Operations, reflected on last year’s Social Audit.
Organized along the event was exhibition of solar pump, millet thresher, high hill crops and various publications of LI-BIRD, and also display of posters and photographs depicting the good practices and activities of LI-BIRD this year. Following the inauguration by the Chief Guest Dipendra Bahadur Kshetry, former Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank and former Member of National Planning Commission (NPC), the participants were briefed about the exhibition by LI-BIRD project staff members.
Mr. Dipendra Bahadur Kshetry inaugurating the event by shelling corn.
With recent attempt to further improve its good governance, LI-BIRD has been organizing Social Audit since 2014, and this year, the Social Audit was facilitated by Mr. Rammani Adhikari, Legal Officer of Lekhnath Municipality. Mr. Adhikari conducted the audit based on his field visits of LI-BIRD sites in Majhthana VDC of Kaski, and Aghyauli and Kawasoti of Nawalparasi. Based on his observations, he mentioned that he was impressed with the participatory approach of the communities in involving in the activities implemented by LI-BIRD.
During the session, the LI-BIRD team received queries and suggestion of various representatives of the stakeholders present in the event. On receiving queries on LI-BIRD’s stance on increasing trend of outmigration of youth in the country, Dr. Balaram Thapa mentioned that it could also be taken as an opportunity to turn the remittance received in the country into an investment on agriculture of the country. He said, “We are trying our best to discuss and include productive investment in agriculture in our upcoming strategy.” Similarly, Dr. Ram Bahadur Rana added, “We are working on commercialization of agriculture, value chain, and market linkage in our new strategy.”
Ms. Epsha Palikhey, Programme Officer, briefing about seeds of local crops exhibited during the event.
Dr. Robert Cardinalli, Chief of Party of USAID funded SABAL project, congratulated LI-BIRD in completing another year and expressed his enthusiasm for continuing partnership with the organization. Thanking LI-BIRD for working in the development of the country, Mr. Bal Krishna Ghimire, Joint Secretary of National Planning Commision (NPC) remarked that LI-BIRD has been working on agricultural programmes that could be of national interest or need. He suggested that LI-BIRD should further work on preserving useful traditional knowledge of seeds and crops. The Chief guest Mr. Dipendra Bahadur Kshetry stated that he had been long acquainted with good practices of LI-BIRD, and also suggested that LI-BIRD should focus on disseminating the knowledge to the youths of the country through a formal education system.
Achievers of the Year 2015
Every year, LI-BIRD awards the best amongst its staff based on the process of Annual Performance Appraisal System. This year LI-BIRD has awarded three staff members: Mr. Achyut Raj Adhikari, Project Officer, based in Humla, was awarded as the ‘Best Newcomer of the year 2016’; Ms. Lakpa Sherpa, Programme Officer, based in Sundaridanda, Lekhnath, was awarded as the ‘Best Officer of the year 2016.’; and Mr. Purna Paudel, based in Jhapa, was awarded as the ‘Best Support Staff’.
New Comer Best Support Staff Best Officer Staff
Mr. Achyut Raj Adhikari Mr. Purna Prasad Paudel Ms. Lakpa Sherpa
Annual General Meeting of LI-BIRD
The second session was ‘Annual General Meeting (AGM)’, a closed meeting conducted among the General Members and Executive Board Members of LI-BIRD. Mr. Krishna Prasad Baral, Chairperson of LI-BIRD, reviewed on last year’s AGM and shared the agendas of this year. Dr. Balaram Thapa introduced new General Members of this year and also presented updates on LI-BIRD’s upcoming strategic plan (2017-21). Dr. Deepak Kumar Rijal, Vice Chairperson of LI-BIRD, reviewed on last year’s action plans of Executive board. The program was concluded with a vote of thanks remarks by Mr. Krishna Prasad Baral.
Click for more photographs of the event
From the media portal: वर्षेनी कराेड बढी कर तिर्ने लिबर्ड २२ वर्षमा
