The USAID´s offer comes after the meeting of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal with US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton in New York on the sidelines of 63rd UN General Assembly.
“An initial talk between top government officials and USAID officials was held on Thursday to explore the possible sector of assistance,” Dr Hari Dahal, spokesperson at the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives (MoAC), told Republica on Sunday.
The USAID has stopped extending its support in agriculture sector since late 1980s.
“Officials of USAID, including its mission chief Kevin A Rushing, have offered to extend their support in agriculture sector, especially in food production, to help our country lessen the ever increasing food deficit,” said Dahal, who attended the meeting.
On the occasion, the USAID officials asked Nepali officials about the needs of Nepali side so as to raise agriculture production.
Senior officials of National Planning Commission (NPC) -- the apex policy making body of the government -- and MoAC also attended the meeting.
“It is good news for us that the USAID has decided to extend its support to the agriculture sector though other donor agencies are shifting their focus to other sectors,” Dahal added. He also said the MoAC would work out the possible sector of co-operation from the US agency to boost agriculture production in Nepal.
“We also apprised the USAID officials about the effects in Nepal´s agriculture sector as a majority of donor agencies are pulling out their assistance from agriculture sector. We also informed them about its subsequent impact on national projects to overall agriculture production,” said Dahal.
USAID officials are interested on investment that focuses on strengthening local food production to lessen local people´s dependence on supplies from the government and aid agencies. Nepali officials also emphasized the need to formulate National Food Act and Food Policy to boost food production within the country without any legal impediment.
As per the government´s preliminary estimation, the nation will face a food deficit of around 400,000 tons due to loss in winter crop production and decline in paddy plantation by five percent. The MoAC, a couple of months ago, proposed a relief package worth Rs 1.62 billion to launch different programs to combat possible food insecurity in the country.
Dahal said there should be focus on programs aimed at increasing food availability, ensuring people´s access to food and proper utilization and stability of food production among others.
“Though the USAID offered their assistance, they are yet to come up with clear cut proposals,” RD Singh, member of the NPC, told myrepublica.
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