Kathmandu, February 19– The Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific (#APRC37), convened by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and hosted by the Government of Sri Lanka, has commenced today, marking a significant milestone in the region’s efforts to address agricultural challenges amidst the pandemic, climate emergencies, and volatile markets.
Bringing together delegates from 46 FAO Member Nations, the conference, scheduled from February 19 to 22, 2024, provides a platform for strategic discussions and collaboration on key agricultural issues facing the Asia-Pacific region. Amidst the multifaceted challenges, the conference aims to exchange insights, share best practices, and formulate collective strategies to address pressing concerns in the agricultural sector.
Led by Hon. Bedu Ram Bhusal, Minister for the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD), the Nepal government is actively participating in the conference, emphasizing its commitment to agricultural transformation. Mr. Ken Shimizu, FAO Representative for Nepal and Bhutan, has also joined the event in Colombo, alongside the Nepalese delegation.
The Government of Nepal underscores its commitment to agricultural transformation through initiatives such as the One Country One Priority Product (OCOP), Digital Village Initiative (DVI), Green City Initiative, and the One Health Approach. In alignment with the Hand-in-Hand initiative, Nepal has identified highland potato, ginger, large cardamom, and Sichuan pepper as Hand-in-Hand commodities.
Nepal highly appreciates the recently concluded FAO Country Foresight Exercise, which has provided direction for the development of upcoming plans and strategies, including the revision of the Agriculture Development Strategy (ADS 2015-35) and the formulation of the decade of agriculture investment.
The conference agenda includes ministerial roundtable discussions on critical topics such as future food and nutrition security, investment and financing for poverty reduction, and strategies to mitigate water and food loss and waste. These discussions provide an opportunity for Nepal to share lessons learned and explore collaborative solutions.
FAO Director-General QU Dongyu’s recent visit to Nepal underscores FAO’s commitment to supporting the country’s agricultural transformation. Emphasizing the importance of agri-food systems transformation, Director-General Dongyu highlighted the significance of prioritizing smallholder family farms and Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in agri-food system transformation.
Nepal looks forward to fruitful collaboration with FAO and member countries in achieving sustainable growth, increasing productivity, and contributing significantly to regional food security. The Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific (#APRC37) serves as a platform for dialogue and collaboration, focusing toward a resilient and sustainable agricultural future for the region.