| Association of Nepalese Agricultural Professionals of Americas (NAPA) |
Socio-Cultural Committee (2026-2028)
Chair
Bharat Shrestha, PhD
Biology Study Lead
Soil Health and Fertility Development at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Dr. Bharat Shrestha is the Biology Study Lead for the Soil Health and Fertility Development Program at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Beaverlodge Research Station, Alberta. Originally from Ashrang, Gorkha, Nepal, he earned his Ph.D. in Soil Science from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences in 2007 and moved to Canada in 2008 as a postdoctoral researcher. His work focuses on soil health, soil carbon dynamics, greenhouse gas emissions, and climate change mitigation, and he currently co-leads the Peace Region Living Lab. A life member of the Nepalese Agricultural Professionals of the Americas (NAPA) since 2020, Dr. Shrestha has made notable contributions through scientific, editorial, and organizational activities. He has edited NAPA’s literary publication Krishika Suseliharu since 2022, served on several committees, reviewed mini-grant proposals and conference abstracts, and contributed reviewing articles to Agri-Connection. He also chaired the 2022 Agri-Poem Competition and presented at NAPA’s biennial conferences. Beyond NAPA, he is actively involved in professional, literary, and community organizations across Canada, the United States, and Nepal.
Members
Amar Shah, PhD
Chief Livestock Development Officer at Nepal's Department of Livestock Services
Dr. Amar Shah is a former Chief Livestock Development Officer at Nepal's Department of Livestock Services and currently works as a freelance consultant and writer. A veterinarian and livestock development expert, he holds a Master's degree in Agriculture and Rural Development. Throughout his career, he has developed extensive expertise in project planning and implementation, breeding technologies, livestock enterprise development, and rural livelihood improvement. Dr. Shah has served the Government of Nepal at various levels, ranging from field extension services to policy formulation, and has also contributed to non-governmental organizations and consulting firms as a livestock and livelihood specialist. Beyond his professional achievements in agriculture and livestock development, Dr. Shah is a respected Nepali writer and poet. He is actively involved with several literary organizations and has edited numerous literary publications. His literary contributions include two collections of poems and two collections of short stories published in the Nepali language, further highlighting his diverse talents and accomplishments.
Bhim Chaulagain, PhD
Applied Data Scientist, BASF
Dr. Bhim Chaulagain is an applied data scientist working at the intersection of agriculture, biological and environmental systems modeling and agronomic research for crop management. He earned his PhD in Plant Pathology from the University of Florida in 2019 and has since built a career developing data-driven decision support tools for precision agriculture. Following his postdoctoral research, he joined BASF Digital Farming Solutions as a Digital Agronomist, where he developed predictive models and digital technologies for corn and soybean disease management, including spray timer, healthy field, and variable rate fungicides for North and Latin American markets. He currently serves as a Data Scientist (Agronomy) at Corvian, developing predictive models and AI-driven solutions that integrate agronomy, environmental data and geospatial analytics to support sustainable crop management. Dr. Chaulagain has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and book chapters, serves as an editor for Plant Disease and reviews for several international scientific journals. Before moving to the United States, he served for nearly four years as a Plant Protection Officer with Nepal's Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. He has been an active member of NAPA, contributing to the organization in various leadership and conference roles.
Govinda Baral
Mr Baral was born Lamjung Nepal in 1972 and grow up in rural area of Nepal. He passed his high school study in 1988 and joined in Institute of Forestry in Hetauda Campus in order to study forest sciences. After completing I Sc, he joined with a non profit organization ANSAB (Asia Network for Sustainable Agriculture and Bio resources) and CSD (Center for Self-help Development). During his profession, he worked with rural communities and contributed for generating income of the rural people. During this profession, he has prepared extension and promotional materials as well as Agri poems in order to raise awareness in the rural communities. In 2011, he moved to America and studied Master in science in Agricultural and Life science in Virginia Tech and currently working with county. Along with it, he has published Nepali literary publication Gajal Ko bito ( Gajal sangraha,2055 BS), Ma Pagal Hoina Doctor (Katha sangraha, 2068 BS) and Daibako Leela ( Mahakabya, 2083 BS).
Sharad Parasar Marahatta, PhD
Scientist, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Dr. Sharad Parasar Marahatta works as a scientist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He earned his Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa in 2011. After completing his studies, he taught for about a decade at Kauai Community College and the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo. Before that, he worked for nearly two decades in Nepal’s Department of Agriculture and agricultural research organizations, mainly in Plant Protection and Agronomy. He is very active in Nepali literary activities who has been hosting virtual poetry since 2022 and has published Yata ki Uta (poem collection) in 2026.