A Kathmandu pitching event brought entrepreneurs, investors and development partners together as Nepal seeks to turn forest and farm resources into business growth and jobs.
Nepal is preparing to promote forest- and agriculture-based businesses not just through government grants, but by connecting them with investment, markets and employment opportunities.
The government has expressed its commitment to making the forestry and agriculture sectors key drivers of a green economy. Agriculture, Forestry and Environment Minister Geeta Chaudhary said the government is ready to remove legal hurdles and create a more business-friendly environment to increase production and entrepreneurship in these sectors.
Around 46 percent of Nepal’s land is covered by forests, but the country has not yet been able to fully connect these resources with economic activities. The government now wants to move beyond seeing forests only as areas that need protection and instead link them with production, businesses and job creation.
As part of this effort, a Matchmaking and Business Pitching event was organized in Kathmandu, bringing together entrepreneurs working in forestry and agriculture, private-sector investors, banks and financial institutions and development partners. Entrepreneurs presented their business expansion plans to potential investors.
Participants emphasized that businesses that initially relied on grants now need to move toward private investment to become larger and more sustainable. The FAO’s Forest and Farm Facility (FFF) has already provided more than US$2.3 million in grants to over 50 producer organizations in Nepal. However, better access to markets and investment is now seen as necessary for these businesses to grow.
Efforts are also underway to create more investment opportunities for women entrepreneurs. A Rs 1 billion “Simrik Nari Fund was announced during the event. The fund aims to invest in women-led businesses while also providing access to markets and technical expertise.
Stakeholders also believe that forestry and agriculture can play a major role in creating jobs. Strengthening the value chains of products such as coffee, honey and medicinal herbs could create new sources of income and employment, particularly in rural areas.
National Planning Commission member Dr. Pukar Malla said such sectors would be important for Nepal to create the 6 million jobs expected to be needed by 2050.
The event also recognized six enterprises and organizations working in the forestry and agriculture sectors. Northern Fungi, Small Farmer Agricultural Cooperative, Kodali Ventures, Binayi Organic Fertilizer, Sindhu Coffee and the Herbal Conservation and Utilization Cooperative received awards in different categories.
Overall, Nepal appears to be shifting its approach to forestry and agriculture-from treating them mainly as traditional production sectors to seeing them as opportunities for business, investment, market development and job creation.
The bigger challenge, however, will be turning these commitments into results. Easier access to investment, legal reforms and stronger systems for connecting local producers with markets will be crucial for Nepal’s green economy ambitions.
