Minister Chaudhary Stresses Need for International Cooperation for Climate-Smart Agriculture

Kathmandu. Minister for Agriculture, Forest and Environment, Gita Chaudhary, has stated that international cooperation is necessary for the expansion of climate-smart agriculture in Nepal. She said this while addressing the inception workshop of the Nepal Agricultural Food System Strengthening Project. She said that the government aims to modernize, commercialize, and transform the agricultural sector through climate-smart technology. She stated that the cooperation of the Chinese government, Sinchca, FAO, and other development partners is necessary to achieve these goals. She said that by building modern infrastructure through international partnership, agricultural production will increase, food sovereignty will be ensured, and sustainable value chains will be developed. She mentioned that Nepal's agricultural sector is affected by structural challenges such as low productivity, increasing effects of climate change, natural disasters, foreign migration of youth dependent on agriculture, and limited access to modern technology and markets. She said that there is a problem in the export of Nepali agricultural products due to the lack of internationally recognized testing laboratories. She informed that the government has also prioritized the construction and expansion of modern testing laboratories. She said, 'The agricultural sector is not only the backbone of Nepal's economy but also the basis of the livelihood, culture, and identity of our majority population. But today our agricultural sector is facing complex structural challenges such as low productivity and the serious and increasing risks of climate change, natural disasters, and the foreign migration of youth dependent on agriculture, as well as limited access to modern technology and markets.' She further said, 'The lack of internationally recognized modern testing laboratories in Nepal is causing problems in promoting the export of agricultural products. To transform these challenges into opportunities and ensure the sustainable development of the agricultural sector and food sovereignty, the Government of Nepal has made the modernization, commercialization, mechanization, and expansion of modern testing laboratories its high policy priority, and our main national goal is to increase production through the optimal use of innovation and climate-smart technology, develop sustainable value chains, empower women and marginalized communities, and achieve inclusive economic growth. I expect cooperation from the Chinese government and donor countries and organizations including Sinchca and FAO in this goal.' She stated that the Nepal Agricultural Food System Strengthening Project, launched with the support of the Chinese government, China International Development Cooperation Agency (Sinchca), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), is directly linked to the government's national priorities regarding agricultural modernization, commercialization, and sustainable development. She mentioned that Nepal's relationship with China is historical, cordial, and problem-free, and China's experience in agricultural modernization and poverty reduction will be useful for Nepal. She said that the exchange of knowledge, technology, and good practices will play an important role in the transformation of the agricultural sector.