UNNATI-A2F Nepal organized 5-day training of trainers (ToT) on Agriculture Value Chain Finance (AVCF) for Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs)s in Kathmandu from 27 June to 1 July 2016. The training was facilitated by Practical Action Consulting, a well-experienced training institute on AVCF. Representatives from eleven commercial banks, nine Micro Finance Institutions and Management Contractor of UNNATI programme have participated in the training. Total of 29 participants (6 female and 23 male) attended the training programme, where 22 participants were from BFIs.  

The purpose of the training was to promote understanding on value chain financing that can be implemented by BFIs in the agriculture sector in Nepal. The training also imparted the participants the know-how and skill required for conducting training programmes.

Mr. Shekhar Bastakoti, participant from one of the commercial banks, said “The training was fruitful to make us understand the overall AVCF and its requirements. We understand now AVCF is one of the potential growth areas that help us to invest in agriculture”

During the closing ceremony, Mr. Ujjwal Raj Pokhrel, National Project Coordinator of UNCDF, shared the activity progress made by the project. He further explained that the project aims to make the financial services accessible to farmers and micro small and medium enterprises to grow; and promote interaction among the service providers and clients. He further heighted that the knowledge gap, information gap and collaboration gap in financial sector as underlying reasons the project was designed. The project so focuses on assessing and identifying the gaps and building on it. He added, conducting market research, designing the training module and conducting this TOT was an example and requested the participating BFIs to utilize the opportunity created by the project. 

Dr. Binod Atreya, National Project Director, thanking all in his closing remark said that the participants have been trained as resource persons in the area of AVCF and expected all to be proactive to enhance the concept with focus on Orthodox Tea, Ginger, Dairy and Large Cardamom within their respective institutions, strengthen the relationship among the actors and move ahead to make it happen.