Minister Adhikari stresses cooperation of FAO

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, June 9: Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Ramnath Adhikari and Daniel Gustafson, Special Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), who is visiting Nepal, discussed the situation of agriculture sector, including food security and cooperation.

In the meeting held at the ministry in Singha Durbar on Sunday, Minister Adhikari said that FAO has worked as a major development partner of Nepal and has played an important role in mainstreaming nutrition and food security in Nepal's development agenda after 2015. 

He expressed his expectation that the projects run by FAO for the development of Nepal's agricultural sector will contribute to food and nutrition security, sustainable natural resource management, building climate resilience, emergency preparedness, and economic upliftment and empowerment of rural women.

Minister Adhikari said that the ministry is willing to collaborate with FAO in providing safe, environmentally friendly and science-based knowledge to farmers through new programmes. 

He expressed his expectation for the continuation of FAO's support in the areas of quarantine zones for the export of agricultural products from Nepal to various countries, pesticide management, and geographical indications of agricultural products.

In the meeting, FAO Special Representative Daniel noted that climate change has affected various aspects of the agricultural sector and has caused problems for countries like Nepal.

He said that it is necessary to face such challenges through climate adaptation programmes. 

He emphasised that the progress made by Nepal in the agricultural sector has shown potential and that new dimensions of agriculture should be adopted in the coming days.

FAO's Country Representative to Nepal and Bhutan Ken Shimizu, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development Dr. Hari Bahadur K.C., among others, participated in the meeting.