BSL-2 Plus Laboratory Inaugurated at Rampur Campus, Chitwan
A 'Biosafety Level 2 Plus' (BSL-2+) laboratory has been established at the Faculty of Animal Science, Veterinary Science, and Fisheries under the Agriculture and Forestry University, located in Rampur Campus, Chitwan.
This laboratory was officially inaugurated by Prakash Shrestha, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development of Bagmati Province.
Support and Handover
Constructed with financial assistance of NPR 150 million from the Bagmati Province Government, the lab building was formally handed over by Minister Shrestha to the university's Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Sharada Thapaliya.
During the inauguration event, Minister Shrestha remarked that the newly completed laboratory building is a prestigious initiative of the Bagmati Province Government.
Benefits and Research Collaboration
Minister Shrestha emphasized that this laboratory will benefit not only 600,000 farmers from Bagmati Province but also farmers across Nepal.
He further shared that the provincial government is committed to collaborating on transforming lab-based research outcomes into practical applications for the agricultural sector.
Technological Application and Educational Support
Also speaking at the event, Krishna Prasad Silwal, Minister for Forests of Bagmati Province, stated that the laboratory will play a critical role in diagnosing diseases and identifying preventive measures.
Minister Silwal highlighted that the use of advanced technology in the lab will contribute to achieving its intended goals, supporting education, research, and the sharing of solutions with farmers.
Laboratory Features and Capabilities
The newly constructed lab has been designed with advanced biosafety features to conduct micro-level testing of diseases and pests affecting livestock and crops.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Sharada Thapaliya noted that the laboratory will be helpful for in-depth study and research on fungi, bacteria, and viruses.
Skilled Human Resources and Future Plans
Prof. Dr. Thapaliya confirmed that the university has adequately skilled human resources to make full use of the new laboratory.
She stated, “The new lab building has been built with full biosecurity measures. We will initially operate using the equipment already available within the university.”
To fully equip the lab, an additional NPR 50 million will be required to purchase new machinery. For this, the university plans to work in coordination with the Bagmati Province Government.
She also informed that the operational guidelines for the laboratory have already been drafted and are in the final stage of completion.
Remarks from Dignitaries
The event also included remarks from former Minister of Bagmati Province, Dawa Dorje Lama, University Registrar Prof. Dr. Pushkar Bahadur Pal, and Dean of the Faculty of Animal Science, Veterinary Science, and Fisheries, Prof. Dr. Bhuminanda Devkota.
