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Food Security Projects In Western Regions Of Nepal
By KTM Metro Reporter
July 24, 2013: with a view to coping with the prevalent food insecurity, and increasing the income level of the people in the west, mid-west, and far-west regions, the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MoAD), the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), the U.S. Agency for International Development/Nepal (USAID/Nepal) and the World Bank jointly launched the Knowledge-based Integrated Sustainable Agriculture and Nutrition Project (KISAN) and the Agriculture and Food Security Project (AFSP) yesterday, according to the news on ‘gorkhapatraonline.com.’ The total budget for the two projects is US$ 20.4 million.
USAID/Nepal is launching the five-year project KISAN under its ‘Feed for Future’ program. AFSP also is a five-year project implemented by the concerned ministers of the Government of Nepal.
The project aims to improve food security to the marginalized-groups and poor households increasing agricultural production, diversifying livelihood options and household income, and improving utilization of food.
The projects will improve food security, increase income and diversify diets for the 160,000 disadvantaged rural households with about one million rural Nepalis in 20 districts through the integrated agriculture and nutrition activities.
Speaking at the function held in Kathmandu to launch the projects, Vice Chairman of National Planning Commission (NPC) Dr. Rabindra Kumar Shakya said that the recently approved Multi Sector Nutrition Plan and recently prepared Agriculture Development Strategy (ADS) would guide the future direction of agriculture, food and nutrition security in Nepal.
Secretary to Ministry of Health and Population Dr. Praveen Mishra, and Secretary to Ministry of Agricultural Development Jaya Mukunda Khanal made the commitment to coordinate the projects, and provide the necessary support for the implementation of these projects.
US Ambassador to Nepal Peter Bodde said that both projects reflected the U.S. government’s commitment to food security through President Obama’s Feed the Future and Global Health Initiatives. Ambassador Bodde also said that instead of simply delivering food aid, these initiatives placed Nepal and other countries in the lead to promote inclusive agricultural growth and improve the nutrition of women and children. "I applaud the Government of Nepal for identifying their priorities and devising their own plans, which both projects will support,” the US Ambassador said.
Country Manager of the World Bank for Nepal Tahseen Sayed reiterated the need for cooperation between the two ministries for the success of the projects and AFSP’s alignment with Government of Nepal's priorities.
The two projects are part of larger global initiatives and are unique in that both feature integrated agriculture and nutrition approaches to combat food insecurity and chronic malnutrition.
