Mr. Chairperson,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Governors,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is indeed my great pleasure to address this august assembly on behalf of the Government of Nepal and my own behalf and would like to extent my sincere gratitude for extending great hospitality to me and my delegate.

Agriculture is the crucial sector and plays vital role in socio-economic transformation of a country like Nepal, which is still a subsistence and agrarian in nature. Meeting the needs of growing population, there is an urgent need of addressing issues related to agriculture development, challenges emerging from the effect of climate change, soaring food prices and improving food security situation of the small and marginalized farmer.

Mr. Chairperson,

Furthermore, household food security and poor nutrition are still major concern in rural areas. The global fight against hunger and malnutrition is still one of the most important tasks facing the international community. More than one billion people in the world are starving now and most of them are in the countries of south Asian regions and Nepal stands in 16th position amongst the 31 countries with the world’s most serious problems of food insecurity. The challenge to provide food for hunger population with and adequate and balanced diet represents a big task.

In the context, IFAD’s role and contribution to enable poor farmers to overcome from chronic poverty, through their economic, social and political empowerment are more crucial and relevant then ever.

Mr. Chairperson,

To overcome with these challenges, a common and different approach is needed towards agricultural development; an approach that restores the regeneration capacity of nature and agriculture. We must not only help poor farmers emerge from poverty, we must also enable them to seek lasting solutions to cope with and mitigate the impact of climate change and improving food security situation.

Nepal is committed to abide by the commitments and decisions made during last world events in 2009; the G8 summits in L’Aquila, Food Security Summit in Rome and Climate Change in Copenhagen and is willing to lead our partners in developing concrete strategy for our policy through the mutual and global co-operation.

I would like to take this opportunity that, the Government of Nepal has realized the need of formulation of concrete strategy and plan to improve the nutrition and food security situation of the country and decided to formulate: (i) National Food and Nutrition Security Plan; and (ii) National Agricultural Sector Development Strategy to address the current challenges in agriculture sector.

Mr. Chairperson,

In recent years, IFAD support to Nepal has contributed in livelihood improvement of poor and marginalized farmer. We would like to congratulate and thank Mr. Kanayo F. Nwanze, for giving effective successful leadership to IFAD as its President during these critical moments in IFAD history.

Last but not the least; on behalf of the Government of Nepal and my own behalf, I would like to acknowledge the decision of IFAD the establish country office and decision to scale up the support to Nepal. In the context, I would like to suggest to upgrade the country office and enhance its capacity to strengthen support and promote mutual partnership in reducing the poverty and fight against the hunger and malnutrition.

I thank you all for your kind attention.

17 February 2010