24th May, 2026
A three-days Heifer cornerstones training for board members and managers of district milk producers’ cooperative unions has been completed in Bandipur, Tanahun. The training, organized by the Central Dairy Cooperative Association Nepal (CDCAN) under the Milky Way program supported financially and technically by Heifer Project Nepal (HPN), saw the participation of representatives from milk producers’ cooperative associations from three districts: Kaski, Tanahun, and Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta East.
The training was organized with the aim of more effectively connecting stakeholders with the shared values, principles and objectives of cooperatives and community development, while enhancing basic capacity. Through the training, it is expected that the institutional capacity of district-level dairy cooperatives unions will be strengthened, along with the development of positive thinking, thereby contributing to the empowerment of milk producers’ cooperatives and farmers. It is also expected that district unions will be able to operate their programs actively and effectively and provide services sustainably.
The training was conducted with the goal of fostering a spirit of cooperation and coordination among participants and in a constructive manner, increasing social capital and promoting initiatives that benefit dairy farmers and the wider community. The training, which began on Wednesday Jestha 6 and concluded on Friday Jestha 8, was attended by 31 participants, including board members and managers from the three district unions. During the training, the district unions also prepared action plans that included activities they can carry out in the coming days for dairy farmers, cooperative institutions and the unions themselves, in accordance with cooperative values and principles. The action plan includes activities such as affiliating all milk producers’ and milk-trading cooperatives within the district with the district union, formulating and implementing incomplete procedures and policies, creating an atmosphere of trust among consumers and fulfilling responsibilities, among others. Likewise, the plan also includes adding value to farmers’ milk and arranging proper marketing, operating a grass donation program, implementing livestock insurance across the district through the district milk producers’ cooperative unions, maintaining mutual thrift and practicing friendly behavior.
The training was facilitated by Shakuntala Rasali, Bishnu Prasad Kandel and Dr. Lekhnath Adhikari from Heifer Project Nepal (HPN). At the conclusion of the training, participants expressed their commitment to making small farmers more business-oriented and said that the training had helped establish mutual relations among the three district associations. Speaking at the closing session Mr. Amar Bahadur Kunwar, Chairperson of the Central Dairy Cooperative Association Nepal, informed that efforts are underway in partnership with Heifer Project Nepal to expand the Heifer cornerstones training to other district unions and milk producers’ cooperatives.
