Agriculture Minister Adhikari says government is committed to making sure everyone has the right to food as a basic right

 KATHMANDU, JULY 31 — Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Ramnath Adhikari said that the government of Nepal is dedicated to making sure everyone has the right to food, which is recognized as a basic right in the country's Constitution. Speaking at the UN Food Systems Summit Stocktake (UNFSS+4) held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from July 27-29, the minister explained that Nepal has passed laws to protect this right, including the Food Rights and Sovereignty Act.


He said that ensuring the right to food is not just about laws, but also a political and moral duty guiding the country’s efforts. Minister Adhikari stressed that Nepal, being a small economy with challenges like climate change, fragile mountainous land, environmental damage, loss of biodiversity, and increasing dependence on food imports, needs to focus on building strong local food systems.


The government is working to support and empower local farmers, women, and young people by promoting nutritious local and indigenous crops and improving the entire supply chain. He also mentioned a program to include locally grown foods in school midday meals, which has helped reduce malnutrition among children and improved their learning. This program also supports rural economies and helps create a stronger, more resilient local food system.


The minister talked about Nepal’s sustainable farming practices like organic farming, climate-friendly agriculture, protecting agricultural biodiversity, and agroforestry. However, he pointed out that Nepal doesn’t yet have enough financial resources or institutional support to fully transform its food system to be more sustainable and inclusive.


Finally, Minister Adhikari highlighted the serious challenges that climate change poses to food production and security in Nepal and asked for international help to tackle these problems.

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