FAO Nepal News Bulletin

FAO Representation Office in Nepal

FAO Nepal News Bulletin Number 01- January 2015 Zero Hunger Challenge Initiatives launched in Nepal The Government of Nepal in collaboration with The Prime Minister further urged development partners to the United Nations launched the Zero Hunger help achieve the goal. Challenge initiative on Friday 19 December The initiatives has five objectives: Cent percent access to 2014. food for all, all year round; an end to stunting among children The Zero Hunger Challenge is a global initiative, under two because of a lack of nutrients during pregnancy and which aims to build support around the goal of in the early days of life; ensuring food systems are sustainable; ending hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition by 2025 in a cent percent increase in smallholder productivity and income and a reduction in food waste. “With this start, we will initiate developing a National Ac- tion Plan 2025 for effective implementation of the project’s goal,” said Minister for Ministry of Agricultural Development Hari Prasad Parajuli. The government plans to launch the action plan by the end of March next year. “The zero hunger initiative is guided by the directives of the Interim Constitution of Nepal that stated that every citizen in the country should have the right to food sovereignty,” Parajuli added. Minister for Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) Khaga Raj Adhikari expressed commitment of MoHP towards successful implementation of ZHCI in Nepal. Minister Khadka, representing Prime Minister, launches ZHCI Dr. Govinda Raj Pokhrel, Vice Chairperson of the National Planning Commission suggested the zero hunger initiatives sustainable manner. The initiative was launched by UN Secre- should be linked with zero unemployment. tary-General Ban Ki-moon on June 2012 at the Rio+20 Confer- Gyan Chandra Acharya, UN Under-Secretary-General and ence on Sustainable Development held in Brazil. Nepal had High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, said made a commitment to undertake the challenge during the that the UN will extend all possible meeting. support to the Govt. of Nepal to end Nepal is the first among SAARC countries and the third the hunger in Nepal by 2025. globally to launch the initiative. As per initial estimation, NRs Hiroyuki Konuma, FAO’s Assis- 24.25 billion per year will be required to achieve the goal of tant Director-General and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacif- ic, said “The launch of Zero Hunger Challenge by the government is a deci- sive move forward for Nepal as it works to eradicate hunger. ” Jamie Mcgoldrick, United Nation’s Resident Coordinator to Nepal, said that Nepal had made efforts to address many of the MDGs challenges and that Minister Parajuli, Minister Adhikari, NPC Vice Chair Dr Pokhrel , UN it was on track to achieve most of its Under-Secretary-General Acharya, UNRC Mcgoldrick and MoAD Secretary Khanal targets. FAO ADG Hiroyuki Konuma ZHC in the country. “The zero hunger initiative will be “As Nepal has taken various initiatives to ensure food secu- a major component for Nepal for translating the country’s goals rity to its people, the initiative is relevant to the country’s mis- and aspirations for sustainable development,” he said. sion,” said Prime Minister Sushil Koirala in a message read out In the beginning of the event, Jaya Mukunda Khanal, Secre- by Dr. Narayan Khadka, Minister for Ministry of Urban Devel- tary at Ministry of Agricultural Development, made presenta- opment. PM Koirala stated, “As the road to zero hunger is long, tion on the concept and objectives of Zero Hunger Challenge we need to devise a new advancement plan to fulfill the com- Initiative in Nepal. mitment.”

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Nepal observes 34th World Food Day-2014

On 16 October amidst a ceremonial function, Minister Pa- rajuli gave away cash prizes and letter of appreciation to 102 outstanding farmers, groups and the organizations selected for their achievements Minister Parajuli giving away prizes to the outstanding farmers in 34 sectors. Speaking on World Food Day (WFD) 2014 with the theme of Family the occasion, Farming: feeding the world and caring for the earth was ob- Minister Pa- FAOR Dr. Pipoppinyo reads out the message of served in all the 75 districts of Nepal with much enthusiasm rajuli high- Director General of FAO carrying out various public awareness raising programs in Kath- lighted on the importance of family farming as a strong solution mandu and throughout the to meet the challenges of global hunger directly affecting more

count ry. than 800 million people around the world. Dr. Pipoppinyo, FAO A month-long 34th WFD Representative in Nepal, read out the WFD message of Dr. Jose celebration kicked off in Graziano da Silva, Director-General of FAO. National media, Kathmandu on 15 October 2014 with a colorful walkathon jointly led by Hari Pra- sad Parajuli, Minister for Ministry of Agricultural De- Minister Parajuli speaking with media velopment, Dr. Bharatendu Mishra, Member of National Planning Commission, Jaya Mukund Khanal, Secretary at Ministry of Agricultural Develop- ment, and Dr. Somsak Pipoppinyo, Food And Agriculture Or- ganization (FAO) Representative in Nepal. More than 600 men and women representing government Minister Parajuli and NPC Member Dr. Bharetendu Mishra jointly officials and farmers together with FAO and other UN agencies inaugurating the WFD-2014 Walkathon walked through the main streets with placards highlighting the objectives of the International Year of Family Farming. A press both print and electronic, made special coverage of the WFD conference was organized by Department of Agriculture on 15 events in Nepal. Half a dozen of TV channels made broadcast of Oct 2014 to brief the objectives of WFD. interviews of Minister Parajuli and Dr. Pipoppinyo. For a world without hunger page 2 FAO Nepal News Bulletin

PROJECT PROJECTION Building capacity of farmers to achieve food security and nutrition FAO Nepal is providing technical assistance to Agricul- through Child Health Division under the Ministry of Health and ture and Food Security Project (AFSP) to implement activi- Population and Department of Food ties in 19 remote districts of far and mid western regions of Technology and Quality Control under Nepal. The project (2013-2018) is funded by a Global Agricul- the Ministry of Agricultural Develop- ture and Food Security Programme (GAFSP) and Government ment. Under this component, the feed- of Nepal (GoN), to enhance food and nutritional security of ing and caring practices especially of targeted households through increased productivity of crop and pregnant and nursing women and chil- livestock and integrating agriculture led interventions for im- dren under 2 years of age will be improved and consumption of AFAOR Dr. Binod Saha diversified diet will be promoted using key entry points in both health and agriculture sectors. FAO is providing technical assistance to AFSP on various aspects i.e. capacity building and AFAOR Sonam quality control. FAO Dhakhwa Genpo has deployed competent staffs to assess local needs and provide timely proved nutrition outcomes. information and technical backstopping for Out of four project components, the first effective implementation of planned interven- component “Technology Development and tions. One of the key ap- Adaptation”, implemented through Nepal proaches to enhance the Program Officer Agriculture Research Council (NARC). capacity of farmers and Shrawan Adhikary NARC will develop appropriate technologies improve agricultural prac- and resources (seeds, breeds and improved tices under this project is Farmer Field management practices), which will serve as School (FFS). FAO is providing its technical the input for the second component assistance in conducting yearlong FFS for “Technology Dissemination and Adoption” crops. being implemented jointly through Depart- Similarly, a contextual and locally suita- ment of Agriculture (DoA) and Department ble FFS module is designed for Integrated of Livestock Services (DoLS). Under the Project Director Team Leader Goat Management (IGM). Under this project, component II, the capacity of farmers will Shyam Pd. Poudyal Dr. B.K.P. Shaha FFS module for dairy goat and poultry have be enhanced to adopt improved agricultural been designed for the first time, and accord- production technologies and management practices through ingly the curricula have been developed. A Farmers’ Field School (FFS). Through improved varieties and cadre of FFS facilitators officer and JTs/JTAs management practices, the production and productivity of crop from GoN and among farmers consisting of and livestock will be increased. The increased production of FFS graduated farmers are developed to facil- crops and livestock will ensure the increased food availability itate FFSs. A total of 2445 FFS (1995 in crop Training Specialist and 450 in livestock) is planned to benefit and access to diversified and nutritious foods. The third compo- Dr. Ratna K. Jha nent “Nutritional Status Enhancement” is being implemented 61,000 farmers over 5 years’ period.

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Nepal identifies challenges and opportunities for improved Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests

A 3-day (December 2-4, 2014 ) workshop on the Voluntary ment (MoAD), the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure (VGGT) of (MoFSC) and the Ministry of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the context of National Food Land Reform and Manage- Security (VGGT) was organized in Kathmandu with the tech- ment (MoLRM). nical support of Climate, Energy and Tenure Division of FAO A consensus among the HQRS (NRC). participants was reached in Supports and facilitation extended by FAO Nepal were in- the workshop for improving governance of tenure of land, fisheries and forests in Ne- pal. Minister Parajuli delivering key notes Delivering the key notes to the workshop, Hari Prasad Parajuli, Minister of Agricultural Development, expressed the Government’s willingness to adopt the Guide- NPC Member Dr. Dangal presiding over the concluding session of the workshop lines. Min- tended to contribute for improvement in poverty eradication, ister Parajuli sustainable livelihoods, social stability, housing security, rural further added development, environmental protection and sustainable social that imple- and economic development. mentation of VGGT team from FAO Headquarters The workshop brought together more than 70 participants the Voluntary representing the govern- Guidelines on the Responsible G governance of ment officials of the Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests will agriculture, fisheries, enhance the efforts being made towards food forestry and land sectors security. and the civil society, Dr. Prem Prasad Dangal, Member of National academia, farmers, fish- Planning Commission, told the participants er folks’ organizations that the conclusion and recommendations and forest user groups. from the workshop will be taken into consid- Participants discussed eration while formulating policies for lands how the Guidelines and agriculture. could be implemented in Participants raising questions during interaction FAO Representative Dr. Somsak Pipoppinyo Nepal to ensure a more assured the government of technical support in economically, socially and the implementing the voluntary guidelines. environmentally A separate technical consultative meeting was organized sustainable way to govern on December 5, 2014 by inviting key participants of the work- tenure of land, fisheries and shop in order to refine the suggestions made by the particpants. forests of the country. The workshop was organized by the Government of Nepal The workshop included paper with support from the FAO and in partnership with the Consor- presentation on the Guide- tium for Land Research and Policy Dialogue (COLARP)-an lines by NRC FAO, the Min- NGO. The workshop was funded by the Department of Interna- istry of Agricultural Develop- tional Development (DFID). A civil society member interacting in a session of the workshop

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Right to food is a basic human right : CA Chair Nembang IN BRIEF

FAO Representation in collabora- Organization of the United Nations. Communication training tion with the Nepal Bar Association Ramesh Dhakal, Joint Secretary at the A 2-day communication training was organized for the staff members of (NBA) organized a half-day workshop Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), made a the FAO Representation in Nepal on 14 entitled “Consultation workshop on Pro- detail presentation on “Protection of -15 November in Kathmandu. tection of Right to Food in New Consti- Right to Food in New Constitution : Training covered the tution: Key Concerns and Issues” on 20 Key Concerns and Issues. Propos- agenda con- October 2014 in Kathmandu. Speaking ing the vote of thanks, Dr. Binod Saha, taining differ- AFAOR, said that FAO is the only ent aspect of UN agency that works globally in communication, infor- the area of food rights. He further mation, public added that through Right to Food relations tools, micro messaging, and initiative in Nepal, FAO is playing a effective short delivery . 29 FAO staff members participat- facilitating role to ensure the Right ed in the training facilitated by Vidhu to Food as fundamental rights en- Prakash Kayastha, the National Media shrined in the upcoming constitution. and Communication Consultant. FAOR Dr. Somsak Pipoppinyo Senior Advocate Hari Krishna Karki, gave away the certificate of attendance the President of NBA chaired the to the participants. Speaker Nembang addressing the workshop event. on the occasion, Subas Chandra Nebang, 60 persons including lawmakers, IPC Level 1 training Chairperson of the Constituent Assem- representatives of political parties, rep- A 5-day training on Integrated Phase Classification-Chronic (IPC resentatives bly Legislative Parliament, said that ef- Level 1) was organized in Godavari, forts were being made to implement the of the Hu- Lalitpur from Nov 2-6, 2014 under international commitment in Nepal mak- man Rights Chronic Integrated Food Security Phase Classification. The objectives of ing the Right to Food as mandatory con- Commission, the train- stitutional provision of fundamental the Govern- ing were to build rights. ment Offi- technical Sudip Pathak, Member of the Na- cials, the consensus, tional Human Rights Commission office bear- to classify severity (NHRC), said that NHRC will remain ers and and caus- proactive to ensure Right to Life along members of es, to communicate for action and to with Right to Food. NBA, civil insure quality assurance. There were all together 34 Participants including Participants of the workshop made society, me- the two participants from Pakistan. remarks on different aspect of the issues dia persons Nusha Choudhury, Regional IPC of the Right to Food, Food Sovereignty. and staff Coordinator, FAO RAP and Sophie Chotard, Food Security Analyst, FAO members of Speaker Nembang released a study Rome were the facilitators of the train- report on “Reviewing of the legislative the FAO ing. framework and jurisprudence concerning participated FAO Nepal in collaboration with the partner agencies provided manage- in the work- the right to adequate food in Nepal”, Presentation by rial support in the training. published by the Food and Agriculture shop. Advocate Raju Chapagain

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PROJECT BRIEFS Ginger Competitiveness Project Enhancing Sanitary and Phytosanitary Capacity of Nepalese Ginger Exports Non-wood forest product brings employment in through Public Private Partnerships, the Ginger Competitiveness Project, is a Nepal Terai and Siwalik Regions Trade Integration Strategy (2010) recog- nized demand based project that focuses Non -wood forest product (NWFP) database / MIS within the department sanitary and phytosanitary standards of gin- is a very important sector for the reve- of forests and assist in reviewing the ger trade from Nepal through interventions nue generation to the government and NWFP related policy. in production system and ginger value-chain. income and employment to the poor and Field level implementation of the FAO has supported the Ministry of Ag- disadvantaged communities in Nepal. programme was done in Sarlahi, ricultural Development in implementation of The medicinal plants and other NWFPs Makwanpur and Rupandehi districts. the project, which is being implemented in have been in use as food and trade items Altogether 12 commercially important Morang, Jhapa, Ilam and Panchthar districts for centuries in Nepal. Presently, it con- NWFP species were grown in nursery of Nepal from June 2012 to June 2015. stitutes major portion (11% by value) of and demonstration plots. The establish- Impacts such as 2,000 farmers (60% total export commodities. Still the ment of the seed production area of women) trained on Good Agricultural Prac- growth in this sector is not satisfactory wild asparagus, seedling collected from tices, 3500-4000 farm households having against its huge potentialities to nine various forests of Dhanusha, Ma- access to the ginger washing and processing contribute in national economy and hotari and Sarlahi, has been established facilities, 200 seasonal jobs created, 200 reduce rural poverty. This sector has in one hectare area of the Laxmi Wom- traders benefitted from the facilities, market been facing numerous constraints and en Leasehold Forests at Sarlahi. This study and training on GAPs, reduced mar- challenges against its tremendous po- will certainly increase the availability of keting and post harvest cost, increased farm- tentialities. quality and genetically superior seeds. gate price (post harvest loss reduction NWFP develop- Several local and by30%, increase in farmers' gross margin by ment programmes in national level work- 25% and increase in farm income by 30%) the past have mainly shops were organized are foreseen. concentrated in the as the part of capacity Farmer capacities are enhanced through mid-hills and high development to the Farmer's Field School (FFS) approach to mountainous regions stakeholders. of the country. Some 342 people par- of the NWFP devel- ticipated in national opment programmes workshops. Two dis- were executed in the Siwalik and Tarai trict forest officers were sent to partic- regions despite great economic poten- ipate in three weeks long NWFP cum tials. In this context, FAO and Govern- bamboo training in China. Five books/ ment of Nepal had agreed to implement proceedings/cultivation manuals, one a two years (February, 2013 to Decem- research article in 'regional workshop adopt Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) in ber, 2014) technical cooperation project on pro-poor leasehold forestry', 20 post- ginger production and maintain records of with the FAO's financial (USD ers in both Nepali and English lan- the practices as base to their traceability. 300,000) and technical support with the guages, two articles in local news paper Capacity building activities are supported aim of poverty reduction and sustaina- were produced. with provision of necessary training materi- ble livelihoods development through The Non-Wood Forest Products als, ginger cultivar seed and other inputs. improved cultivation, processing and database is being prepared under this A 6 mt/hour capacity washing facilities marketing of NWFP in the Tarai and project. Comprehensive review on the is being constructed at Duwagadhi-9 of Siwalik regions of Nepal. The project Herbs and NTFP Development Policy Jhapa district to be handed over to NGPTA aimed to achieve five outputs such as 2004 and other related documents car- for operation. Project implementation is reg- comprehensive gap assessment of the ried out and based on the review and ularly monitored by its stakeholders through NWFP sector in the region, establish- stakeholders consultation, the policy field observations, PTWG and PSC level ment of NWFPs nursery, demonstration was proposed to revise. The Revised meetings. Total project implementation is plots and seed production area of wild Herbs and NTFP Development Policy overseen enthusiastically with overall re- asparagus, capacity development of 2014 (draft) has been prepared and for- marks on the project as being perfectly in concerned stakeholders, development warded to Ministry of Forests and Soil right tract in achieving the set objectives. and maintenance of the functional Conservation for its adoption.

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PROJECT BRIEFS Bio-secure Agriculture Project

Regional Cooperation on Highly Nepal is bearing several problems in trade, public health and livelihood of smallholder farmers. Inadequate capacity to meet Pathogenic Emerging and Re-emerging mandatory regulations and standards of the importing countries Diseases (HPED) and their private sectors have limited the opportunities for agricultural exports. Similarly, inadequate quality control of agro- food supply chain raise food safety challenges in domestic mar- Under the Global Framework on Trans boundary Animal kets. At the same time smallholder farmers are losing their con- Diseases (GF-TADs), the sub-regional emergency centre for trol over the high income domestic markets due to stiff import trans boundary animal diseases (ECTADs) for South Asian As- competitions. Tourism development in the country, which the sociation of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries was es- government has placed high priority in, would also heavily de- pend on supply from the regulated producers and imports. Even the safety of imported products is not assured due to inadequate capacity to assess the risks of entry of poor quality foods and consignments with quarantine diseases and pests. FAO supported Government of Nepal to implement a TCP project “Policy assistance for Biosecure agro-food supply chain for enhanced market access and food security for the smallhold- ing rural sector (TCP/NEP/3402) during September 2012 to December 2014. The broad objective of the project was to develop a roadmap for Biosecure agriculture that creates an enabling environment to link small farmers to agro-food supply chain covering both the domestic and export markets thereby enhancing their livelihood. The expected impact of the project was to contribute to the transformation of Nepalese agro-food supply chains into Biosecure through developing policy, regulatory and institutional frameworks and building capacity of public and private sectors, thereby creating an enabling environment for unhindered market access and enhanced livelihood for small- Getting ready for terminating of infected birds during bird flu outbreak holder farmers. The project achieved all four outputs proposed: assessment of biosecurity status, development of biosecurity policy and leg- tablished within FAO Nepal in September 2007. islations, capacity building of public and private sector in biose- Furthermore, the Regional Support Unit (RSU) was estab- curity and strengthening of national food control system. A re- lished within the FAO’s Sub-regional ECTAD through the EU port on Biosecurity Status of Food and Agriculture in Nepal is funded “Regional Coordination Programme on highly patho- published which includes assessments of crops and high value genic and emerging diseases for South Asia” from Dec 2009 – crops, livestock and poultry, fisheries, forestry, food processing Dec 2014. The overall objective of the programme was to con- and costs of compliance for biosecurity. The project developed tribute to the improvement of food safety, human health, nutri- National Biosecurity Policy and strengthened capacity of public tion and well-being and alleviation of poverty in ASEAN and and private sector through training on risk analysis, laboratory SAARC countries through improved control of Highly Patho- operations, good practices and policy level. The project has de- genic Emerging and Re-emerging Diseases (HPED), including veloped and tested training modules, curricula and manuals for the ongoing crisis owing to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza biosecurity. National Codex committee members have been (HPAI). More specifically, strengthening and empowering the trained and a secretariat is established for it. SAARC in their ability to prevent, control and eradicate HPED, The project has successfully explored the status of biosecu- including HPAI, through improved veterinary and public health rity in the country and laid a foundation for strengthening biose- services and inter-sectoral collaboration on a regional basis. curity and protecting health and life of human, animal and plant. Interacting closely with the SAARC Secretariat and the veteri- It has also successfully created strength and awareness among nary and public health sectors in the region, the program intends private and public sectors for implementation of biosecurity con- to benefit the population of South Asia and the global commu- trol measures. The work initiated by the TCP will get further nity at large by preventing the emergence and spread of epidem- pace when the government enacts policies and legislations, de- ics and pandemics due to HPED and the ongoing crisis due to velops an institution and internalizes training and capacity build- HPAI. ing programmes.

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Success story: Pro-poor Leasehold Forestry FAO ADG Konuma visits Nepal Tul Pariyar sends his eight children to school Pro-poor Leasehold Project implemented by FAO Nepal has brought a remarkable change in the life of Tul Bahadur Pari- yar. Tul Pariyar, one of the poorest Dalit members of the Akala Devi Leasehold Forest Users’ Group (LFUG) of Sunaula Bazaar in Dhading district, had very hard time to take care of 10 family members including 8 children. Due to poverty, he could hardly afford his children for education in local school After getting membership of the leasehold forest user group, Tul ADG Konuma in the office of FAO Nepal Pariyar got one pair of goats from Tul Bahadur Pariyar starts Hiroyuki Konuma, FAO’s Assistant Director-General and the leasehold forestry project. Rear- his day’s work Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, paid a visit to ing the goats produced their kids. the FAO Representation Office in Nepal on 18 Dec 2014. Dur- From selling of goats, he bought a pig that produced 8-9 kids at ing the visit, FAOR Dr. Somsak Pipoppinyo and other staff every littering. Currently, he generates average annual income members briefed of NRs. 50,000 to 60,000 from goat rearing and piggery. He has ADG Konuma on the activities being now decided to take up a milking buffalo as well. carried out by FAO "I learned much in monthly meetings about forest manage- Nepal. ment, fruit cultivation, livestock rearing, savings and credit and ADG Konuma, health and sanitation. Because of my hard work and improved who was in Kath- livestock rearing, many organizations like Nepal Red Cross So- mandu to participate ciety, Nepal Scout and Prayas Nepal visited my house, observed in the launching of Zero Hunger Initia- those activities and appreciated my works. One of the organiza- tives in Nepal, tions awarded me NRs. 5000/-" said Pariyar. Due to his in- expressed happiness ADG Konuma greets Health Minister creased income, two children are studying in college, two in a over the good work Adhikari in the reception private boarding school and others in village secondary school. done by FAO Nepal. Expressing happiness over the visits of the FAO officials A reception was organized in the honour of the visiting dignitary. and representatives of other organizations Pariyar said, “It is Minister for very astonishing for me that people from foreign countries Ministry of Agricul- working in big organizations visited my place to ask about my tural Development works. It fills me with pep and enthusiasm to strive for more." Hari Prasad Paraju- li, Minister for FAO Representation in Nepal Ministry of Educa- tion Chitralekha United Nations Building Yadav and Minister Pulchowk, Lalitpur for Ministry of Health and Popula- KATHMANDU NEPAL ADG Konuma and FAOR Pipoppinyo Mailing Address: tion Khaga Raj Ad- with Maurizio Busatti, Chief of Mission of IOM PO Box 25, UN House, Pulchowk, Kathmandu, NEPAL hikari attended the Telephone: +977-1-5523200 reception. Fax: +977-1-5526358 Diplomats, the UN officials, high ranking government offi- E-mail: [email protected] http://coin.fao.org/cms/world/nepal/Home.html cials, and representatives of INGOs, NGOs and civil society were among others who attended the reception.

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