HICAST initial visit

This morning I visited my partner site for the first time. The Himalayan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technologies (HICAST) has two campuses (one for veterinary sciences and one for the agriculture and food sciences). I’m stationed in the temporary location for agriculture and food, which is located right beside Ring road (the busiest highway in Kathmandu). A new building is being built which I believe is supposed to be ready next year at the same location where the vets are located. The initial meeting went well, and we have had some good ideas on what could be accomplished with a mandate of post-harvest pest/disease management. There is a large problem of spoilage. Before the earthquake, a good system was in place for identifying diseases and pest in the field. The college had trained plant doctors who were resource people in the villages. Problems could be identified on the spot or could be sent into the Plant Clinic at the college, not unlike our Plant Disease Clinic at Lab Services. However, post-harvest problems have not been addressed, which is where I supposedly come in 🙂.