LAMAHI, APRIL 21
A multi-stakeholder food system dialogue was held in Lamahi, Lumbini Province,aimed at providing recommendations to the provincial government for food-system related policy and plan formulation. The Lumbini Province Planning Commission jointly organized the event withthe Ministry of Agriculture, Land Management and Cooperatives, Welthungerhilfe (WHH),and its implementing partners – Kapilvastu Integrated Development Services, Rural Reconstruction Nepal, Kalika Self-Reliance Social Centre, and FORWARD Nepal.
The dialogue brought together a diverse group of participants, including representatives from the National Planning Commission (NPC), provincial and local governments, farmer-based organizations, representatives from the private sector, academia, UN agencies, development partners, media, youth, and students. The event aimed to localize the food system transformation agenda in line with Nepal's commitments made during the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit and the recently developed national food system strategy.
Speaking at the event, Shakeb Nabi, Country Director of WHH Nepal, emphasized that transforming the food system is essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. He highlighted the urgency of localizing food system transformation to ensure food security, food sovereignty, and the right to food – all fundamental rights of Nepali citizens.
Presentations during the event outlined the current status of food systems at both the national and provincial levels. C.P. Basnet, Under-Secretary at NPC, shared national progress, while Ghanshyam Chaudhary, Head of the Food Security and Agri-business PromotionDepartment at the Lumbini Ministry of Agriculture, provided a provincial overview.
Key speakers underlined the importance of collaboration and inclusivity in food system policy planning. Sukraraj Chaulagain, provincial lead of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), stressed the need to involve journalists early in program design for better public engagement. Jit Kumari from the NGO Federation highlighted the ongoing contributions of NGOs and pledged continued support for food system transformation.
Krishna Prasad Sharma, Chair of FNCCI Lumbini, spoke on the role of the private sector and the challenges posed by policy implementation. Representatives from the DCC federation and Rural municipality federation called for targeted nutrition programs and pilot projects in high-HDI areas where food insecurity remains a concern.
Dr. Jay B. Tandan, Member of the NPC, discussed the food system transformation as a government's priority including the 16th plan, noting the expected cabinet approval of the national food system strategy. He stressed the importance of institutionalizing food system transformation from the federal to the household level.
Chief Minister of Lumbini Province, Chet Narayan Acharya, called for coordinated efforts across agriculture, health, and social development ministry level.He further added that undernutrition in women and children and the reduction of NUS (Neglected and underutilized crops) are interconnected. He emphasized raising community awareness on food and nutrition and encouraged development partners to prioritize support in the most vulnerable areas. He also advocated for the promotion of indigenous crops like millet, buckwheat, and organic farming practices, along with creative media campaigns to raise awareness.
Dr. Dilliraj Aryal, Vice-Chair of the Lumbini Planning Commission, emphasized the importance of collective efforts and behavioral change initiatives. He shared insights into the idea generation process behind the event and thanked the development partners for their collaboration and support in making it possible.
In the panel discussion on"Access to Safe and Nutritious Food for All", Soma Rana, Food Security Expert, highlighted the poor nutritional status in Lumbini Province, especially among children under five, citing issues such as iron deficiency, limited food security, low consumption of diversified diets, and increasing intake of junk food. She emphasized the need for consolidated and coordinated efforts to address these challenges. Khim Bahadur Kunwar, Province Secretary at the Provincial Policy Commission, Lumbini, shared insights on multi-stakeholder coordination practices and their associated challenges. He also discussed nature-based solutions and plans to promote organic agriculture initiatives in the province.
Yam Narayan Devkota, Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Land Management and Cooperatives (MOALMC), provided an overview of the provincial implementation status. Bishnu Prasad Timsina, General Secretary of the Forum for the Protection of Consumer Rights Nepal, stressed the weak implementation of existing policies, calling for stronger monitoring and enforcement of the Right to Food and Food Sovereignty Act, as well as the Food Safety and Quality Act.
Assistant Professor Mahesh Jaishi from the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Tribhuvan University, recommended the development of localized, food systems-based curricula and emphasized the need for effective implementation of the Right to Food and Food Sovereignty Act.
Krishna Prasad Sharma, Chairperson of FNCCI Lumbini, underscored the importance of recognizing and supporting the contributions of the private sector in advancing food and nutrition security.
WHH and its partners are working with six local governments in Kapilbastu, providing technical support for localizing the food system transformation and the right to food and food sovereignty act in Yasodhara, Mayadevi, Suddodhan, and Buddhabhumi, Kapilbastu, Maharajgunj
