IAAS-II contract final report : Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science project-II

The report covers the period 9/85-9/90. During the last year of the contract, political unrest in Nepal seriously disrupted most of the project"s activities and made the academic future of IAAS very uncertain. Throughout the project, student unrest and demonstrations led to frequent changes of administrative officials. The dean"s position was held by four different people in five years and faculty turnover caused continual frustration. Some achievements were made as the result of TA. For example, a research program in buffalo reproductive physiology was introduced and a veterinary parasitology diagnostic laboratory established. Capability was developed for the analysis, detection, and diagnosis of fecal, blood, and external parasites. In addition, short-term and in-country training were completed as planned. However, although the long-term training component was expanded from 10 to 15 participants, proposed fields of study and candidate selection criteria were disputed at length by departments and potential candidates, resulting in serious delays in all but one case. Despite these efforts, IAAS did not develop into a quality educational and research institution. Furthermore, given current and immediate past political, social, and economic conditions, it is unlikely that it will do so in the near future. Major constraints include: (1) physical isolation of the campus and professional isolation of faculty; (2) political appointment of administrators and constant disruption of administrative matters by students; (3) rampant faculty absenteeism when classes are in session; and (4) lack of faculty incentives. It is recommended that support to IAAS be suspended until economic and political conditions improve to the point that adequate sustained support from the central government is possible.