Biosafety Level-2 Plus Laboratory Inaugurated at AFU Chitwan
A Biosafety Level 2 Plus (BSL-2+) laboratory has been constructed at the Faculty of Animal Science, Veterinary Science, and Fisheries, located at the Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU), Rampur, Chitwan.
The lab was officially inaugurated by Prakash Shrestha, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development of Bagmati Province.
Funded with Provincial Government Support
The laboratory, built with financial assistance of NPR 150 million from the Bagmati Provincial Government, was handed over by Minister Shrestha to the university's Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Sharada Thapaliya.
Speaking at the inauguration, Minister Shrestha stated that this laboratory is a flagship initiative of Bagmati Province.
Expected Benefits for Farmers Across Nepal
Minister Shrestha highlighted that this lab can benefit over 600,000 farmers in Bagmati Province and farmers across the country.
He emphasized that the provincial government will work jointly with the university to ensure that the findings from research conducted in the lab are translated into practical applications.
Disease Prevention and Research Support
Krishna Prasad Silwal, Minister for Forests of Bagmati Province, stated that the lab will help identify the impacts of diseases and prepare preventive measures.
Minister Silwal also mentioned that integrating technology into the laboratory’s work will enhance its objectives, facilitating teaching, research, and problem-solving support for farmers.
Equipped for Microscopic Disease and Pest Studies
The facility is designed with specialized high-level biosafety arrangements to conduct micro-level testing of diseases and pests affecting livestock and crops.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Sharada Thapaliya stated that the lab will serve multiple purposes, including in-depth analysis of fungi, bacteria, and viruses for research and diagnostics.
University Prepared with Skilled Human Resources
Prof. Dr. Thapaliya noted that the university already has qualified personnel ready to operate the lab effectively.
She said, “The new laboratory building has been fully constructed with biosafety features. We will initially use existing machines available within the university to begin lab operations.”
Additional Equipment and Budget Plans
To operate the lab at full capacity, additional equipment costing NPR 50 million will be needed. The university plans to collaborate with the provincial government for the required support.
A draft of the operating procedures for the lab has been prepared and is currently in the process of being finalized, according to Vice-Chancellor Thapaliya.
Remarks from Other Attendees
At the inauguration event, former Minister Dawadoje Lama of Bagmati Province, University Registrar Prof. Dr. Pushkar Bahadur Pal, and Faculty Dean Prof. Dr. Bhuminanda Devkota also delivered remarks.
Multi-Use Research Facility for Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences
The laboratory is built with high-level specialized safety systems for micro-level examination of livestock and crop diseases and pests.
It is expected to be highly useful for conducting detailed research on fungi, bacteria, and viruses.
Chitwan