KATHMANDU: Minister for Finance Yubaraj Khatiwada said that the government has highly prioritised the issue of food security in order to meet the target of sustainable development goals (SDGs).

The Finance Minister also expressed Nepal's commitment to ensure food security and achieve zero hunger in a few years time.

Addressing the board meeting of World Food Programme in Rome, he said, 'This meeting is important for Nepal also for the reason that the new five-year country strategic plan of WFP is being approved by the Executive Board. I am happy to note that the plan has been developed in a highly participatory way, aligning with the national priorities, UNDAF and SDGs. Government of Nepal will work together with WFP to implement it.'

According to Minister Khatiwada, Nepal -- being a signatory to 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development -- is implementing SDGs and prioritising them with a focus on SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) which would be instrumental in achieving several other SDGs including No Poverty, Education, and Good Health and Well-Being.

'This prioritisation of SDG 2 is supported strongly by our commitment to ensuring human right to adequate food, now constitutionally enshrined through the Right to Food and Food Sovereignty Act 2018 -- thereby enshrining Zero Hunger within the constitution,' he said.