The National Action Plan on the Zero Hunger Initiative in Nepal (2016-2025) was launched jointly by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva in Kathmandu.The National Action Plan was prepared by the Ministry of Agricultural Development in collaboration with the United Nations and with the technical support of FAO, reads a statement issued by the FAO on Monday.
Nepal's initiative to eradicate hunger in the country is in line with the Zero Hunger Challenge declared by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in 2012.
Prime Minister Oli, while launching the action plan, claimed that Nepal was one of the very few countries with "food sovereignty and right to food" enshrined in its constitution.
"I would like to make a serious commitment that malnutrition will be eliminated within ten years," announced the prime minister, further adding that he is fully committed as the head of the government of Nepal to provide support for ending hunger in the country by 2025.
Haribol Gajural, minister for Agricultural Development, pointed out that the ministry is already heading toward the goal of eradicating hunger through its approval of the Agriculture Development Strategy, and the recently declared 27-point commitment, which aim to make the country self-reliant in agriculture production.
The FAO director-general acknowledged Nepal's high-level political will as well as its commitment in setting hunger and poverty eradication targets in its national priority agenda. He further acknowledged that the National Action Plan is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the international community last year.
The director-general said FAO would continue supporting the government of Nepal and development partners, including civil society organizations, to materialize the targets set under the National Action Plan.
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