About ALRC:
This program aims to extend the existing functions and services of the Bottle House (or Shikharapur Sustainable Farmers’ School) by turning a newly constructed two-storey building into a community and agricultural learning center.
The Bottle House has been operating since 2012, and receiving support from ONGD-FNEL since 2017 to provide learning and training opportunities, as well as financial aid, for surrounding farmers and rural youth in agriculture and entrepreneurship. The center also receives more than 1000 visitors each year who learnt about agriculture and social work.
As an extension of the Bottle House project, Shikharapur CLC had constructed a building to become a Community and Agricultural Learning Center. While the Bottle House was currently on leased land in an area experiencing rapid urbanization, the new center can provide bigger, permanent space and infrastructure to provide more expertise and sustainable support for farmers and rural youth, and to expand services to wider areas and a bigger population.
Program Plan:
The current building has two storeys.
The ground floor will be made into an agriculture research laboratory. The research lab will house a storage space and a working space, for conducting basic agriculture-related tests, such as testing of soil, water, urine of animals, or identification of insects and diseases. For larger, more complex tests or experiments, the laboratory will serve as a liaison between local communities and external laboratories. The laboratory shall be equipped with storage spaces for samples collected, and basic testing equipment and kits.
The second floor will house the following spaces; Information Center/ Reception, Digital Classroom, E-learning corner, Workshop Room, Classroom, Office with cabins, Kitchen Space, Bathroom space, and verandah space for group work
In the future, we anticipate support from the Provincial Government to build an additional storey, which will house a larger training hall for 60 people, and living quarters for residential students.
We also anticipate purchasing land for development of an organic farm to support demonstration, learning-by-doing, and income-generation of the surrounding communities.
Program Impact:
The building will serve three main purposes:
- To provide training, support, and resources related to agriculture and entrepreneurship via college degree, CTEVT programs, research and information dissemination..
- To serve as a learning hub for sharing and exchange among communities near or afar.
- To experiment and develop digital and alternative marketing strategies for supporting entrepreneurship among local farmers and youth.
Overall, our program will benefit students, farmers, entrepreneurs and consumers not only from the surrounding area but also afar.
Niroj Shrestha
Program Manager