Minister Rana says Nepal is fully committed to making sure everyone has the right to food.

 Kathmandu, June 29 –

Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba has emphasized Nepal’s strong commitment to ensuring that every citizen has the right to food. Speaking at a special ministerial session of the 44th Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) conference in Rome, she said that Nepal's constitution recognizes food as a fundamental right, and the government is working to make that a reality.

She highlighted key national efforts like the Food Systems Transformation Strategic Plan (2022–2030), the Food Safety and Quality Act 2024, and a new Food Safety and Quality Control Policy. These initiatives are meant to guarantee access to safe and nutritious food by enforcing standards, improving food inspections, and protecting consumers. A dedicated consumer court has also been set up to help safeguard people’s rights and build trust in the country’s food system.

Dr. Rana shared Nepal’s progress in child health and nutrition. Over the last 20 years, stunting in children dropped from 57% to 25%, underweight rates went down from 42% to 24%, and wasting declined from 15% to 8%. She said Nepal’s Global Hunger Index score also improved significantly—from 37 in 2000 to 22.4 in 2024. These improvements, she noted, came from strong political will, active community participation, and cooperation across different sectors.

She credited programs like vitamin A distribution and the Golden 1,000 Days Programme for helping millions of children, lowering child deaths, and tackling malnutrition. Schools, health services, and media campaigns are also being used to teach children and families about healthy eating, with a new push toward local, fresh food.

Looking ahead, Dr. Rana stressed the need to use modern technology—like artificial intelligence and digital farming platforms—to boost agriculture and nutrition. She also raised concern about climate change, describing it as a serious threat to Nepal’s farming and rural communities due to melting glaciers, irregular rainfall, and extreme weather. She called for more global support, including funding, tech sharing, and collaboration.

Dr. Rana also pointed to challenges at home, such as youth migration reducing the rural workforce and rising conflicts between people and wildlife in mountain and hill areas. These issues, she warned, are putting food security at risk.

She said Nepal must protect its rich farming traditions, biodiversity, and mountain crops, but to do so, it needs more investment, technical help, modernised farming systems, and access to new technologies.

Dr. Rana concluded by highlighting Nepal’s national strategies to promote healthy diets, including the National Nutrition Policy 2020, Food-Based Dietary Guidelines, and the Multi-Sector Nutrition Plan II. She said that cooperation with international organizations like FAO and UNICEF is key to tackling global challenges and improving lives.

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