Kathmandu-
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, in collaboration with the World Food Forum, successfully organized the Consultation Workshop on Youth Food Lab. The workshop aimed to establish a new momentum in forming the Youth Food Lab in Nepal, engaging young voices to enhance capacity and foster meaningful dialogue for promoting agrifood system transformation, food security, and climate action.
Addressing the youths, Mr. Ken Shimizu, FAO Representative for Bhutan and Nepal, emphasized the importance of youth inclusion in the agricultural sector despite its challenges. He commended the World Food Forum Nepal Chapter for uniting youth across the country through wider engagement and advocacy programs and committed to supporting youth in agriculture through various initiatives and programs.
“By leveraging the insights gained from this workshop, we aim to revise government policies and expand youth interventions, ensuring that the voices of our young people are central to our strategies for sustainable development and promulgation of youth-related policies,” said Mr. Hari Prasad Adhikari, Under Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports. He thanked FAO for organizing the program and highlighting the youth agenda for creating employment opportunities and transforming youth into agripreneurs.
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Mr. Surendra Basnet, Executive Vice Chairperson of the National Youth Council, admired the partnership with FAO in many youth-led programs for empowering youth, equipping them with skills, and managing resources and infrastructures. He added that NYC is committed to being a part of transforming the agrifood system and contributing to a sustainable future for Nepal.
Mr. Suran Maharjan, Country Coordinator for United Nations Volunteers, spoke on Nepal’s significant potential for youth engagement and praised FAO and the World Food Forum Nepal for this initiative, which brings together youth to nurture innovative ideas and transform agrifood systems into sustainable business models.
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Celeste Macilwaine, Youth Innovation Specialist, and Maria Kolesina, Youth Innovation Consultant from the FAO/WFF Headquarters, provided an in-depth presentation on the Youth Food Lab, outlining the Lab’s objectives in enhancing youth capacity and encouraging active participation in the agrifood sector. They reiterated that Nepal is setting milestones to drive sustainable agricultural development and food security by creating opportunities for young people to engage and contribute to the transformation of agrifood systems.
During the breakout session, participants were divided into six groups to discuss the challenges youth face in the agriculture sector and the opportunities and resources available to them. Each group provided innovative insights and inputs, leading to a productive discussion session.
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