A China Chongqing-Nepal Vegetable Training Centre was launched in Khokana, Lalitpur, on Sunday, marking a new phase in agricultural cooperation between Nepal and China.

The foundation stone for the centre was jointly laid by Bagmati Province Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Madhusudan Paudel, representatives of the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, and Zou Zhiqiang, country director of the China Foundation for Rural Development (CFRD) Nepal Office.

The programme also marked the opening of the 2026 Vegetable Technical Training Programme under the “China-South Asian Countries Poverty Alleviation and Cooperative Development Centre – Nepal Vibrant Village” initiative.

Lalitpur Metropolitan City Mayor Chiri Babu Maharjan and Dakshinkali Municipality Mayor Mohan Basnet attended the event alongside local representatives, agricultural experts, farmers and community members.

According to organisers, the initiative aims to modernise Nepal’s vegetable sector through greenhouse technology, climate-smart agriculture and sustainable farming systems.

Projects under the programme have already been implemented in Khokana and Hudu of Dakshinkali, where greenhouse structures and technical support systems have been introduced. The programme focuses on increasing vegetable productivity, improving food security, efficient water use, integrated pest management and balanced fertiliser application.

Organisers said vegetables produced under the initiative are being sold in local markets and exported to Qatar.

The ceremony venue also featured exhibitions of projects supported by CFRD, including school feeding programmes, women’s empowerment initiatives, vocational training and vegetable farming projects. Local women’s groups and farmers displayed handwoven shoes, local sweets, handicrafts and vegetables grown under the programme.

Addressing the programme, Minister Paudel stressed the need for climate-smart and technology-driven farming practices to strengthen Nepal’s vegetable sector and improve farmers’ livelihoods.

He said the training centre would help enhance farmers’ technical knowledge, boost agricultural productivity, create employment opportunities and promote sustainable commercial farming in the province.

CFRD Nepal Country Director Zou Zhiqiang said the training centre and continued technical cooperation would help farmers adopt modern agricultural technologies and improve farming practices.

She said the initiative would contribute to higher agricultural productivity, stronger economic opportunities and climate-resilient farming systems in local communities.

Global Cooperation for Development (GCD) Chairperson Mukti Marasini described the launch of the training centre as “a living commitment to the future of Nepali agriculture”.

“This is not merely a structure of bricks and mortar. Today, we have inaugurated hope, broken ground on lasting collaboration, and honoured the power of partnership,” Marasini said.

He said the centre would serve as a permanent platform for knowledge exchange and provide farmers, especially women and youths, access to greenhouse technologies, integrated pest management, balanced fertiliser application and post-harvest techniques based on Chinese expertise.

Marasini also highlighted the broader significance of Nepal-China cooperation in rural development and agriculture.

“A seed does not ask whether it is Chinese or Nepalese; it only asks for good soil, water and care,” he said. “Today, we have prepared the soil. The China-Nepal friendship has provided the water.”

According to organisers, CFRD has expanded its agricultural projects in Nepal over the past year under the Vibrant Village Initiative, including hybrid rice demonstration farms in Chitwan, greenhouse vegetable systems in Khokana and Dakshinkali, and fishery and livestock technology projects in Jhapa.

The event concluded with field visits and interactions between farmers and Chinese agricultural experts.