Janakpur– The Madhesh Food Forum 2025 concluded successfully in Lalgadh, Dhanusha, spotlighting the province’s role in driving Nepal’s agri-food transformation. The event secured NPR 519.2 crores (USD 37.9 million) in investment commitments across agriculture, forestry, food processing, and cold storage.
These investments—formalized through Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between investors and the Madhesh provincial government—signal growing confidence in the region as a strategic agricultural hub. They also reflect the strengthening of public-private partnerships to improve value chains, food security, and rural employment.
The Forum was jointly organized by the Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives (MoLMAC) of Madhesh Province, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, and the World Food Forum (WFF) Nepal Chapter.
Presiding over the inaugural session, Hon. Janardan Singh Kshetri, Minister for Land Management, Agriculture, and Cooperatives, emphasized the province’s transition from “dialogue to delivery,” adding: “The time has come to transform how we practice agriculture.”
Chief Minister Hon. Satish Kumar Singh, delivering the keynote, declared Madhesh the “pioneering province for Nepal’s agricultural revolution.” He stressed placing “farmers, women, and youth at the heart of our efforts” and connecting policy with grassroots innovation.
Finance Minister Hon. Sunil Kumar Yadav also pledged a fiscal shift: “Agriculture is now at the center of Madhesh’s development vision,” he noted, committing resources toward irrigation, enterprise development, and farmer support systems.
From a global lens, Mr. Daniel Gustafson, FAO Special Representative, hailed the event as the world’s first provincial-level food forum, encouraging youth to see agriculture as a frontier of opportunity.
FAO’s Nepal-Bhutan Representative Mr. Ken Shimizu emphasized the province’s strategic potential and confirmed the organization’s growing technical presence in Madhesh.
Ms. Mamata Mahato, Vice Chairperson of NARMIN, advocated for stronger inter-governmental collaboration to ensure that “no community is left behind.”
The Madhesh Food Forum 2025 aligns with FAO’s “Four Betters” vision—Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment, and a Better Life. It also supports the World Food Forum and the FAO’s Hand-in-Hand Initiative, positioning Madhesh as a frontrunner in inclusive, climate-smart, and investment-ready food systems.
