Action plan mooted to boost productivity

Itahari, Oct. 25 (RSS): A meeting of an agriculture engineers' task force held by the Eastern Region Agriculture Research Centre, Tarahara to boost agricultural productivity and its commercialisation in line with HMG's 20 year agricultural plan concluded Tuesday.

At the meeting held for three days, the participating agricultural engineers came to the conclusion that a plan of action should be mulled in order to take all types of seeds, seedlings and livestock recommended by them down to the grassroots level and bring about substantial changes through mass production along with soil tests.

The meeting also agreed on the need to make packaging for seeds, once recommended by them, available to local farmers through the centre.

The task force divided into four groups comprising agricultural engineers working in the eastern part of Nepal and lead farmers of this region also reviewed the progress seen in research into various crops, livestock, fodder, fisheries, horticulture and other research and charted out a future course of action.

The experts working in this field should impart knowledge about advanced technology and use of chemical fertilisers and insecticide in order to mitigate the adverse impact that crops up in the absence of knowledge about such things, the meeting concluded and stressed the need to communicate promptly about these things to the local farmers.

During the meeting, Prem Chandra Prasad Chaurasiya presented a working paper on agricultural crops, Uday Chandra Thakur a paper on fodder, Hari Narayan Mandal on fisheries, Ram Lakhan Mandal on horticulture and Ramji Prasad Khadka on research work.

Regional Agricultural director Ghanshyam Singh and research centre chief ChittaranjanYadav issued directives to the participants on implementing the plan of action agreed at the meeting.

Fortune tellers face misfortune

Kathmandu, Oct. 25 (RSS): Hari Poudel who hails from Balewa, Banglung has taken up the calling of a fortune teller since the last seven years to support his family of four including a wife and 3 daughters. He is almost always to be seen sitting in front of the RNAC building.

He did not study palmistry or astrology but manages to satisfy almost all his clients who are eager to know of their own future.

Other fortune tellers who are also to be seen on the pavements around Ratna Park have a similar tale of straightened circumstances.

About 50 to 60 such fortune tellers have been compelled to making a living through this calling with a rosary of Rudhratsha around the neck and other paraphernalia including vermilion at different places in the capital. The main reason behind this is poverty.

Some of the days I am able to fetch Rs. 50 to 60, but most days I return with empty hands, and I have to support a family in these days of rocketing market price, Poudel says.

"It is the unemployed youth intent on going to the Gulf countries to try their luck who are most curious about their future," said another fortune teller Govinda Sharma.

He claims that he has undertaken studies in mathematics and astrology and had been involved in preparing horoscopes in his native village for a long time.

A person once served by him comes back repeatedly, he says.

He is to be seen in front of Bir Hospital along with his belongings that include calendars dating back to 2025 Bikram era and a couple of books on horoscope.

He charges Rs. 50 for preparing a single horoscope and tries to set himself apart from other fortune tellers.

Bhim Nath, also a fortune tellers, likewise has a story to tell. He fell upon hard times at the age of 60 after his own son and daughter-in-law turned against him and forced him out of the house.

"We lived peacefully in our village with the little means that were at our disposal and what I earned through portering. But now, I can do nothing because of age," he laments.

Hits FM to stop temporarily

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Oct. 25:Hits FM has decided to temporarily stop its transmission from today. Hits FM, the Hits Nepal Pvt. Ltd.'s FM radio station, had been on air on Radio Nepal FM Kathmandu since April 2, 1996.

As per Hits FM's press statement released today, Radio Nepal, in its letter to the Hits FM on October 24, 2000, has decided to terminate Hit FM's transmission effective from today (October 25, 2000).

Hits FM, while announcing that it would be broadcasting again through its own radio station very soon on 91.2 MHz, further claimed that Radio Nepal's short notice has forced it to go off the air.

Promote Ayurveda,   emphasizes : Dr. Yadav

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Oct. 25:Aayurveda an alternative medicine has an increasing prospect in Nepal given the country's wide range of medical herbs in her rich bio-diversity. This was highlighted at a programme to mark the 6th anniversary of Singha Darbar Development Committee and Dhanawantari Day here today.

"It is needed to identify these valued plants and generate the skill manpower to make the Ayurveda medical system more competitive not only within the country but also in the expanding world's market," said Minister for Health Dr. Ram Baran Yadav inaugurating the ceremony.

Pointing out the lack of co-ordination among the concerned authorities and allied agencies to forward what he said the "traditional medical system of the country", Minister Yadav stressed the role of Baidhyakhana to produce skilled manpower and mobilising the natural resources.

"This ancient medical system in the country faces stiff competition not only from the allopathic system but also the from South Asian markets adopting the same traditional way of healing," he said in the meeting.

The government is committed to help the committee, he said. Minister Yadav said the doctors who are involved in this field need to be honest and committed. He was referring to the cases wherein the Ayurvedic physicians tend to treat patients with Ayurvedic medicines mixed-up with allopathic chemicals. "This may help the patients to recover soon, but such mixtures ends up causing side-effects."

Releasing a memoir "Dhanawanti" on the occasion, State Minister for Health Tirtha Ram Dangol said the available valued herbs across the Kingdom either remain unutilised or are smuggled out to foreign countries. "Nepal could earn itself a unique identity if it could tap the global market of herbal medicines."

Health secretary Padam Prasad Pokharel on the occasion said that the Baidyakhana has a sole responsibility to make Ayurveds a success story.

Dr Krishna Kanta Adhikari, Chairman of the Singhdarbar Baidyakhana Development Committee and first Director General was felicitated on this occasion.

Managing Director of the committee Dr. Chandra Raj Sapkota explained the activities of his organisation.

TU to begin new course in Engineering

Kathmandu, Oct. 25 (RSS):Tribhuvan University (TU) Institute of Engineering is to begin a two-year Master of Science course in renewable energy engineering from September, 2001 with the objective of preparing high level technical manpower to meet the increasing demand for energy in line with the growing population in the country.

Sixteen students will be enrolled in the first year of the course in which candidates with bachelors degree in any discipline of engineering are eligible to apply. Necessary syllabus and academic calendar for the course are being prepared at present, it is learnt.

According to a memorandum of understanding signed in June, 2000 between the TU Institute of Engineering and University of Colorado, USA the University of Colorado will extend cooperation to the institute in this regard.

Professor (Dr) J. Michael J. Brahdemuhl from the University of Colorado, consultant Dr. Bill Warnock, director of the energy studies centre Prof Jagannath Shrestha and other energy experts have formulated a detailed action plan for the course.

This is the first time that post graduate level classes in energy is to be introduced in the country. Those who enroll for the course on full-time basis will complete the course in four semesters while it will take eight semester to study the same course on part-time basis.

The course will cover theoretical, practical and classes and the students will also have to submit a thesis.

The course has been designed in such a way as to receive international recognition while technical expertise on energy will be developed leading to optimum utilisation of it thereby making contributions to the development of the country, according to director of the Energy Study Center Dr. Jagannath Shrestha.