NPC urges to increase budget on nutrition

Kathmandu, Feb. 18:

“Towards zero hunger in Nepal: A strategic review of food security and nutrition”,launched today by the National Planning Commission (NPC), makes a strong case for increased attention and investment in food security and nutrition.

It provides a consolidated picture of the food security and nutrition status, challenges, opportunities and recommendations towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger in Nepal by 2030.

The NPC said that in 2015 the Constitution of Nepal, enshrined the “right to food” of all citizens, and subsequently the government commitment to this was elaborated in the Right to Food and Food Sovereignty Act endorsed in 2018.

"As a part of the Government’s continued commitment, this report will be a key tool to support execution of this Act, with a specific action plan to achieve SDG2 targets to ensure that 'no-one is left behind'," it said.

The report was released by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health and Population Upendra Yadav and Member of the NPC Dr. Krishna Prasad Oli.

DPM Yadav said that the review results were vital to promote access and availability to safe, nutritious and affordable food which the government promoted to be locally produced.

"By ensuring a holistic approach to increase local production that combines traditional food varieties with modern agricultural technologies, we now have the opportunity to improve the way we work together, so that every citizen has access to locally available, affordable and nutritious food and we achieve a nation free of hunger," he said.

Likewise, Dr. Oli said that the government now had the opportunity to strengthen political commitment both at the centre and the periphery, by including SDG2 and recommendations from the report in all national policies, plans, strategies and budgets at provincial and local levels.

The Strategic Review Report was produced by an independent study under the supervision of an inter-ministerial advisory group led by the NPC. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in collaboration with FAO and UNICEF, provided technical support for the strategic review process.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily.