استكشاف الملاحظات الرسمية للحوار

Discussion Topic AT3: Boost nature-positive food production at scale Context: Increased biodiversity losses, deforestation and land degradation problems. One third of agricultural lands are fallow and degraded, and a large portion are converted to settlements and infrastructure. Poverty has forced households in forest and pastureland encroachment. Production of major staples and commercial vegetables in some pockets has caused excessive mining of soil nutrients, water depletion and agrochemical pollution. Underlying causes affecting the stated proposition: Dependency on imported crop varieties... قراءة المزيد is increasing with lack of site-specific food production; lack of production in broader landscape/agroecosystem level. Lack of land utilization policy and plans have promoted rapid conversion of fertile agriculture lands into settlements and other non-agriculture use. Disappearance of indigenous food system; rural out-migration; inadequate capacity development of farmers; lack of agriculture mechanization. Underlying Barriers for Achieving the Stated Proposition: • Land fragmentation • Land degradation from poor management of soil and lack of incorporation of organic manures • Chure (Siwalik hills) destruction from overmining of sands, forest encroachments, lack of drainage causing flooding and landslides. • Haphazard and unsafe use of pesticides and chemical fertilizer in vegetables, cash crops and major food crops • Climate change impacts with major negative impact through flooding, drought, siltation and loss of fertile lands • River banks cutting by major rivers and decline of water level • Forest fires, rice straw burning and diesel engine mechanization causing pollution, GHG emissions and loss of biodiversity • Lack of human resources and lack of coordination among 3 spheres of governments Actions for the next 3 years: • Conservation of Chure area- Biodiversity conservation, construction of water ponds and water harvesting measures • Land levelling for collective and consolidated farming and improvement of lands • Enforcement of Land use policy 2015 and Act 2019 • Restoration of river bank land through riverbed farming and other measures • Balance use of chemical fertilizer and use of Biochar for integrated soil fertility management • Focus on organic / bio-pesticides • Introduce legume and green manure in crop rotation • Awareness and refresher training on IPM and organic pesticides for agrovets and farmers • Awareness on value of beneficial insects such as predators and pollinators • Production of agricultural machines and tools that can be operated from electricity and biogas for reducing GHG emissions and pollution • Promote crop and livestock insurance for nature positive production system • Promote healthy feed additive supplement Assessing the success of Action: • Budget allocation and incentive-based participatory and multi-disciplinary monitoring • Use of number of water harvesting ponds and drainage canals • Area under legume crop rotation increased • Plans/programs prepared and budget allocation • Capacity development of human resources in nature positive production system • Research focus on ature-positive production system • Relevant institutions nature positive production management developed and strengthened Roles and responsibilities of 3 tiers Government & other Actors: All Three Tiers Governments: Consistent policy framing with clearly defined roles from all spheres of government, budget allocation at local, provincial and federal, policy and regulation for restriction of sand mining in river banks and chure hills Federal and Provincial Government: Empower local governments, enhance technical capacity to address the issue of environment and climate change, Implement land use policy and act, land bank, Policy on IPM and organic pesticides Provincial and Local Government: Awareness IPM and organic pesticides, capacity building of technicians, farmers and biodiversity, climate smart agricultural technologies, water management, soil fertility management- provincial and local govts Local Government: Nature positive demonstration program- e.g. Riverbed farming, drainage canal repair, قراءة القليل

Discussion Topic AT4: Advance equitable livelihoods Context: Landless, smallholders, women, Dalits, indigenous people rely on agriculture and forest-based foods; many of them are unrecognized as farmers, underpaid and, or wage rates differ by gender. Deep rooted social and economic inequalities in employment opportunities increase vulnerability. Inadequate institutional mechanisms for and limited capacity of women, small holders, old-age, people with disability (PWD), internally displaced people (IDPs). Underlying causes affecting the stated proposition: Agriculture sector is seen as less remu... قراءة المزيدnerative and less attractive. The major reasons are of skewed power relation over productive resources especially of land, water, forest to women and disadvantaged groups; land fragmentation and use of agricultural land for other purposes have reduced options to secure access and land rights of people in the value chain. Feminization of agriculture due to young male out-migration. Underlying Barriers for Achieving the Stated Proposition: • Lack of access to production inputs such as land, tools and equipment specially for small farmers; • Lack of water management strategies and programs; • Maximum and haphazard use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and in food chains; • Poor implementation of existing policies, plans and programs that supports for upliftment of women, poor, vulnerable communities to build sustainable livelihoods options; and • Lack of technical human resources at the local levels to support farmers for better production, productivity, market linkages and livelihoods options. Actions for three years: • Facilitate to provide land ownership certificate to farmers; • Empower farmers and improve access to markets to them; • More youth focused plans and policies, transformation of agriculture (improve the perception of the people towards agriculture); • Focus on result-oriented programs and policies rather than traditional ones; and • Monitor the import from India (in the borders as product exported(illegally may be) from Nepal to India and it comes back again) Assessing the success of Action: • Establish Information Technology based data management; • Monitor and respond to minimize risks specially for poor and marginalized; • Systematization of program supervision by the local government representatives to create ownership and accountability towards their role in responding inclusivity; • Support and monitoring of local and climate smart seed development of comparative advantages and culturally sensitive; • Right to information to small holders, women and vulnerable groups to be provided for their access to program related supports; and • Ensure equitable livelihoods options will be facilitated through multi-stakeholder engagement and diversify options. Roles and Responsibilities of governments and other stakeholders: • Inclusion of gender dimension in plans and policies at three tiers of policies, institutional mechanisms and programs; • Requirement of sustainable policies and plans at all three tiers that serves to all equitably; • Prioritize agriculture in policy and plans of provincial govt to ensure equitable access to means of production, employment opportunities and fair distribution of incentives to the vulnerable groups; • Protection of chure area for sustainable management of cultivated lands and geographically inclusive cropping patterns and food system; • Advocate for sufficient budget allocation for agriculture and livestock sector at local level; • Development of programs for youth to change their attitudes towards agriculture specially at the local and provincial levels; • Agriculture related skill development programs to women administrative support to local govt to improve coordination, deputation to local level by province to act as a focal point; • Maintaining database from local level and mapping of vulnerable area and households; and • Allocation of budget to support vulnerable community-local and provincial government. قراءة القليل

Discussion Topic AT5: Building resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks, and stresses Context: Current food system is under pressure from climate crisis, conflict, COVID-19 pandemics, economic shocks, natural disasters and environmental degradation, including food price hikes and disease-pests outbreaks. These shocks, stress and disaster can be devastating for poor and vulnerable people, who have limited resources and options. Climate induced and other natural disasters have significant impact on national economy. Lately, COVID-19 has contributed to increase unemployment, poverty and vulnerabilit... قراءة المزيدy including loss of livelihoods. The 2015 Earthquake increased number of food insecure people by 3.5 million. Underlying causes affecting the stated proposition: Farmers and stakeholders lack adequate incentives for climate initiatives and green agriculture. High post-production losses, unsafe transportation and weak supply chain resulting in inadequate/late access of safe food in affordable prices for marginal, poor and low income groups. Epidemics/pandemic (such as diarrhea, COVID-19, etc) have increased vulnerability of poor, women, and marginalized households. Poor, landless, and marginalized groups have settlements in vulnerable places (river banks, landslide prone areas). Preparation and readiness arrangements are weak. Underlying Barriers for Achieving the Stated Proposition: • Subsistence and unremunerative farming • Disaster vulnerability is increased by level of poverty as poor households are dependent on flood/disaster prone lands for cultivation • No protection of poor farmers during disasters • No proper orientation of plans, policies and programs to farmers • No proper continuation of transport facilities during disasters • Lack of new technologies and seeds to farmers • Lack of preparedness for disasters and no early warning system to share the information with the farmers • Lack of knowledge to cope with disasters • Subsidy administration not well targeted to real farmers and need based • UN agencies and other private agencies are not involved in food distribution collectively during disasters Actions for the next 3 years: • Water outlets and irrigation should be focused by relevant governments and projects • Need based Disaster related plans and policies prepared and implemented • Fertilizers and pesticides should be accessed easily by the farmers • Subsidies should be provided to all needy farmers (poor) rather than elite. • New knowledge creation and market management mechanism developed • Women and youth should be encouraged for farming • Black marketing should be discouraged through regular monitoring • Determine minimum price by the government and discourage middlemen in marketing • Promotion of traditional practices of disaster response Assessing the success of Action: • Implementation structure should be strong for investigating policies and laws • Increment in productivity rate needed • Food (Rasan) card system should be introduced • Enhanced access to irrigation facility • Stored agri products should be transferred properly • Budget allocation and spending trend should be at the right track • Implementation of farmers oriented policies • Awareness raising activities should be increased for farmers • Publication of every work related with budget spending on them • CIAA should always develop a system to get complaints by the farmers for any corruption during disaster Collaboration and Roles/responsibilities of 3 tiers Government and other Actors: • Central level decision related to budget allocation to be implemented by provincial and local agencies on food security • Climate adaptation related plans and policies • Concerned authority in their working area of land degradation should be accountable • Cold storage should be constructed by the province and local government • Coordination in hazard mapping and recovering plan should be collectively managed • Insurance co. desk related to agriculture should be established in every local government • Formulating laws which allow UN and other private agencies to work with 3 tiers of govt in preparedness, risk reduction and relief. قراءة القليل

Discussion Topic AT6: Right to Food and Food Sovereignty Act-a legal framework for sustainable food systems in Nepal Context: Nepal has developed legal framework to ensure good governance of food systems and transform them. The right to food and food sovereignty is enshrined in the constitution, and the government has given priority to ensure safe and nutritious food to all in a sustainable manner. The Right to Food and Food Sovereignty Act accommodates all ATs and provides as a legal framework for the resilient, equitable and sustainable food systems in Nepal. Underlying causes affecting the ... قراءة المزيدstated proposition: Limited consultations with stakeholders, while formulating the Act; outcomes of the consultations were not widely shared. In general, policies are often prepared in rush, and with less attention to preparing action plan. Lack of organized efforts in the implementation of policies. Poor accountability measures on the implementation of laws/policies. Governments, particularly at local levels lack technical capacity to prepare laws and policies. Underlying Barriers to Achieve the Stated Proposition: • Lack of efforts for effective implementation of the Act, regulation, and policies • Farmers are not getting subsidy provided by the government • Inadequate storage facilities at the local level • No minimum support price fixed by the local government, even it is fix lack of ability to procure. • Problem in the storage production inputs like fertilizer • Lack of ensuring cultivate land to landless (sukumbasis) • Not all the agricultural functions carried out by the province and local government as per the constitution • No proper management/regulation of middlemen in agricultural markets • Inadequate financial resources for agricultural programs more specifically for targeted programs • Lack of clarity between provincial and local policies • Lack of agricultural policy to provide employment to skilled/trained/educated people • No clarity about water use and cropping pattern in irrigation projects and programs Actions for the next 3 years: • Internalization of irrigation and capacity development programs of the Ministry • Categorization of the farmers and distribution of Identity card • Control the activity of middlemen in agricultural commodity pricing and marketing • Periodic review of policies and programs • Ensure the participation of farmers in policy and program development • Orientation to people’s representative and farmers about the policies and programs need and their preparation • Managing data base and their dissemination • Proper management and timely action on complaints regarding programs and subsidies • Resource mapping of the agricultural investment Assessing the success of Action: • Develop format for M&E and carry out survey • Carryout timely M&E • Ensuring gender responsive agri policy and price determination • Evaluating the sample agricultural programs to assess their effectiveness • Periodic supervision and monitoring by the concerned agency to ensure the good governance in program implementation • Proper analysis and dissemination of information on food and nutrition security Roles and Responsibilities of 3 tiers Governments and Other Stakeholders: • Collaboration among the three tiers of government on policy formulation and their effective implementation • Formation of all party Monitoring Committee • Agri policy to be formulated by local government and publish in the gazette • Creation of emergency fund (through using legal instrument) for ensuring emergency nutrition and food security related aspects • initiating campaign by involving all the stakeholders (Farmers’ federation, Consumer Federation etc.) to promote good governance in agriculture • preparing working policy by focusing on targeted groups/communities • Agricultural land management قراءة القليل

There was no marked observation on the areas of divergence.

Government of Nepal, National Planning Commission (NPC), organized the provincial Food Systems Dialogue of Sudurpaschim Province on 2nd July 2021 on the theme Nepal towards an equitable, resilient and sustainable food system. Dr Basudev Sharma, Joint Secretary, NPC delivered the welcome and opening remarks. The event was curated by Dr. Kishan Lal Bhatta, Secretary Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOLMAC) and Provincial Dialogue Curator. He stressed on the need for collective efforts from all the sectors in the process to transform food system and committed to contribu... قراءة المزيدte for transformation. Major focus of the dialogue was to engage stakeholders for a comprehensive exploration of food systems in Nepal as part of the process for the UN Food Systems Summit 2021. The specific objectives of the dialogue were to; • raise awareness and promote public discussion on the food systems, • examine current situation and identify key aspects of Nepalese food systems, such as the drivers, actions, pathways, and • explore opportunities for food system to make it equitable, sustainable and resilient. Total of 108 participants attended the event representing different stakeholder groups, background, institutions, and professions. In order to generate focused dialogues and collect the specific inputs, participants were assigned to respective Action Track (AT) Groups after a brief opening session in the plenary. The AT coordinators, facilitators, co-facilitators, and rapporteurs facilitated the dialogue process and documented the discussion outcomes. Each AT Group had proposition and reference questions to engage in dialogue and provide inputs as follows: AT 1 Proposition: Increased agriculture productivity and develop sustainable food chain for affordable safe, healthy, and nutritious diet to improve levels of nutrition, ensure all people to be well nourished and healthy and achieve zero hunger. AT2 Proposition: Enabling, inspiring and motivating people to enjoy healthy and sustainable consumption options; Slashing food loss and waste; and transitioning to a circular economy through advancing in technological, environmental, economic, social, regulatory, and institutional fronts. AT3 Proposition: Protect natural ecosystems from new deforestation and conversion for food and feed production; manage sustainably existing food production systems; restore degraded ecosystems and rehabilitate soil function for sustainable food production. AT4 Proposition: Developing inclusive and diverse food systems that contribute to the elimination of poverty and food and nutrition insecurity by creating jobs, raising incomes across food value chains; protecting and enhancing cultural and social capital; reducing risks for the poorest and increasing value distribution. AT5 Proposition: Developing inclusive and equitable food systems to ensure that all people within a food system are empowered to prepare for, withstand, and recover from instability and participate in a food system that, despite shocks and stressors, delivers food security, nutrition, and equitable livelihoods for all. AT6: Referring to the overarching legal document developed based on the constitutional provision, Right to Food and Food Sovereignty Act (2018), is considered as a legal framework. Hence, this Act and related policies are the key to strengthen food system governance and accountability and transform food system that is resilient, equitable and sustainable. Dialogue reference questions: Following 5 questions were presented to the participants to facilitate the dialogue: 1. What are the underlying causes/ barriers for achieving the stated proposition? 2. What are the key drivers of unsustainable food system? 3. What actions in the next 3 years will have greatest impact on the Discussion Topic? 4. How will it be possible to tell if these actions are being successful? 5. What are the role and responsibilities of the food system actors including those of the federal, provincial, and local Governments in sustainable food system transformation in Nepal? قراءة القليل

The provincial dialogue provided opportunity to engage participants from different agencies, sectors, and disciplines including the government, academia, researcher, farmers’ organization, civil societies and private sectors from different parts of the country. During the dialogue, critical discussions were held to examine the provincial food systems to understand potential causes/barriers and drivers and generate ideas to decide bold actions for the next 3 years. Indeed, this will be further verified and refined after the feedback from the Provincial, and second and third national dialogues... قراءة المزيد. Five Action Tracks and one cross cutting lever of change were the Discussion Topics. Following the constitutional provision, cross cutting lever of change was selected as the Right to Food and Food Sovereignty Act as a legal framework for the sustainable food system in Nepal. Hence, six groups rigorously discussed on these topics following the ATs propositions and reference questions mentioned in Section A above. Relevant officials of the Government of Nepal had chaired the groups, while the thematic experts from the government and non-government sectors had facilitated the discussions, and designated rapporteurs from different agencies had documented the discussion points. Whole exercise was concluded with big team efforts. The dialogue also collected some learning to reflect impression and work further on as following: 1. Some participants were new to virtual meetings (attending the session using online platform to participate in specific groups); 2. Less number of participation from industries and post production value chains (actors). 3. The issues were well understood by the participants, which were common for some of the ATs. Drivers of change and actions mentioned were also common to some tracks. 4. There was a common understanding among the working groups about the role and responsibilities of the three spheres of the government in Nepal, in terms of formulating policies, regulations, education, and their implementation. Participants suggested to draw clear delineation of the roles and responsibilities of the three spheres of government. 5. There was strong commitment from the stakeholders to address the issues of access to food, nutrition, distribution and effective implementation of policies and regulations. Overall, participants had actively engaged in different groups to exchange and share ideas and potential actions for analyzing and improving the Nepalese food system in general and provincial food system in particular. Some potential and emerging issues were identified and validated; the dialogue was also helpful in raising awareness and elevating public discussion on key food system issues and identify potential options and solutions for making food system inclusive, resilient and sustainable (refer Section below: Outcomes for each discussion topic). قراءة القليل

Discussion Topic AT 1: Ensure safe and nutritious food for all Context: The cereal grain availability is fluctuating due to variations in production; per capita availability has reached from 194 Kg (2001/02) to 237 Kg (2017/18); 48.2% households are food secure, whereas 10% are severely food insecure. Percentage of severely food insecure households are more in rural areas (11.7%) than in urban (8.8%), the percentage is highest in Karnali Province (17.5%) followed by Sudurpaschim (13%) and Province-2 (10.7%). Underlying causes affecting the stated proposition: Locally available nutritious crops... قراءة المزيد/foods getting less importance; biodiversity/cultural diversity not promoted. No focus on micronutrients; poor nutrition including breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices; many families do not have access to nutrient rich foods. Underlying Barriers for Achieving the Stated Proposition: • Irrigation: Inadequate irrigation facilities and dependent on monsoon rain • Land: Fragmentation of land, land remaining fallow and affected by soil erosion • Research: Technological research and development not focusing on the geographical context, • Policy: No policy on Land use, protection of cultivable land and attraction of the private sector • Subsidy: Subsidy policy not appropriate and at the reach of all • Physical infrastructures: Poor road condition and network • Outmigration of youth and feminization of agriculture • No assurance of the markets for the products • Agriculture occupation is not honored • Nepalese producers not getting remunerative prices • Lack of awareness about the nutritious foods. • No coherence between policy and budget allocation Actions for three years: • Reform in policy, nutrition education at the school level. • Use of media for awareness raising, formulate policy to attract the private sector • Establishment of research centers considering geographical diversity. • Commercialization of production of crops/commodities • Attract educated youths in agriculture • Identification of exportable crops and NTFPs and their cultivation • Climate change adaptive agricultural technologies development • Organic agriculture practices • Conservation of indigenous/local crops and their promotion • Increase the access of transportation, communication, and electricity, • Develop agricultural roads to enhance market access • Development of storage facilities for seed, fertilizer, and other inputs • Utilize available irrigation • Homestead gardening to improve nutrition. • Awareness raising campaigns by disseminating message as “ I eat for health not for taste” • Development of post-harvest technologies and their utilization • Development of climate adaptive value chains and adoption • Strong coordination and collaboration among the stakeholders Assessing the success of Action: • Establish appropriate policy and implementation mechanism. • Development of Monitoring and Evaluation Indicators • Integrated coordinated system for reporting (ICT in Reporting) Roles and Responsibilities of governments and other stakeholders Federal Government: • Policy formulation and execution, budgetary support to province and local level • Acting as a role of facilitator for effective coordination. • Human resources and their appropriate management • Publication and management of national level statistics Provincial Government: • Capacity building of the human resources, coordination and collaboration • Monitoring and Evaluation of the programs • Database management at provincial level and its analysis • Periodic plan preparation • Self-sufficiency program on seeds, feeds, fertilizers and ensuring markets for products. • Policy and program formulation for food safety Local level: • Awareness raising on nutrition, food safety, and consumption. • Capacity building of HR • Database management at Municipal level • Promotion of commercialization and market promotion • Policy and program formulation for food safety Other stakeholders: • Supply of quality production inputs, market promotion • Research and Demonstration of technologies • Awareness raising on nutrition, food safety, and consumption قراءة القليل

Discussion Topic AT2: Shift to sustainable consumption patterns. Context: About 4.6 million people are food insecure in Nepal.; Prevalence of triple burden of malnutrition-under nutrition, overweight/ obesity, and micronutrient deficiency. Stunting, wasting and low weight in children contributing to 52 percent of child mortality; obesity among children and adolescents has increased by 29 times in the past four decades; women and children also suffer from some of the world’s highest levels of vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Underlying causes affecting the stated proposition: Change in dieta... قراءة المزيدry pattern characterized by two-meal-rice (per capita rice consumption increased by nearly 70% in 50 years). Dietary shift towards unhealthy processed foods high in saturated and trans-fat, salt and sugar neglecting nutritious indigenous crop-based foods. Increase in fat intake in diet and undernutrition in childhood has coincided with increased overweight/ obesity and other Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD); over two-thirds of adolescent girls in both rural and urban areas reported consuming sugary foods. Consumption of foods produced by using high dose chemical fertilizers and pesticides; items, such as biscuits, instant noodles and juice drinks may be supplying about a quarter of energy intake of children <2 years, which is lowering their intake of essential vitamins and minerals. Underlying Barriers for Achieving the Stated Proposition: • Lack of education and awareness, high reproductive rate, lack of food diversification • No value addition of food products and no proper utilization of food grains. • Inadequate infrastructures like roads and storage facilities resulting no food preservation • Inadequate technologies for food processing and value addition • No clear policy and programs for local foods and seeds. • Marketing of junk food whereas Himalayan food system is not attractive. Actions for three years: • Implement commodity specific programs • Implement School feeding programs • Local crop use promotion policy • Food diversification and branding of local crop • Research and extension of nutritional value of local crops/commodities • Processing of local crop • Expansion of mid-day meals as social protection program • Development and enforcement of localized menu on the basis production capacity and potentiality • Develop school as market for local small holder farmers through mobilization of farmers group/cooperatives. • Development as well as management of infrastructure and equipment at various level supply Chain • Promotion and expansion of one school one health/nutritionist • Nutritional education promotion Assessing the success of Action: • Develop indicators. • Social audit/Public Auditing of programs • Monitoring and evaluation through outsider and jointly • Prepare and monitor Program profile • Annual survey and Management Information system Role of Governments and other Stakeholders: Local level: Data collection, disseminate information, capacity building of local staff Provincial and federal: Data management Province and Local: Develop technical messages- Federal Govt: Include sustainable food system in school curriculum Private sector: Marketing, branding, processing of local product Financial institutions: Investment in local crop related program قراءة القليل

Discussion Topic AT3: Boost nature-positive food production at scale Context: Increased biodiversity losses, deforestation and land degradation are major problems. One third of agricultural lands are fallow and degraded, and a large portion are converted to settlements and infrastructure. Poverty has forced households in forest and pastureland encroachment. Underlying causes affecting the stated proposition: Dependency on imported crop varieties is increasing with lack of site-specific food production; lack of production in broader landscape/agroecosystem level. Lack of land utilization policy... قراءة المزيد and plans have promoted rapid conversion of fertile agriculture lands into settlements and other non-agriculture use. Disappearance of indigenous food system; rural out-migration; inadequate capacity development of farmers; lack of agriculture mechanization. Underlying Barriers for Achieving the Stated Proposition: • Fragmentation of land • Degradation of agricultural land (road and building construction) • Outmigration leading to increased fallow/barren land in hilly region • Lack of province level integrated land use policy • Lack of coordination between agriculture and land related institutions • Improper research and development on agro-biodoversity and climate change • Improper land use pattern (mono-cropping) Actions in the next 3 years: • Focus on nature based research and development • Development and implementation of consolidated land use policy and programmes • Implementation of land bank concept for the proper use of fallow land • Identification, characterization and promotion of NUS crops and engaging private sectors in marketing • Strengthening local seed system • Promotion of organic farming • Awareness raising and nutrition education through integration of required information in the course curriculum of schools and universities • Promotion of climate smart agriculture in partnership with local governments • Promotion of rain water harvesting technique • Development and implementation of soil fertility improvement related program • Restoration of degraded land and watersheds/landscapes (SSNM/SALT technologies, agroforestry, conservation agriculture, bioengineering) • Identification and promotion of agriculture niche based commodities • Improved livestock management system in high altitudes areas Assessing the success of Action: • Regular participatory monitoring and evaluation of the programme • Development of impact indicators of the proposed activities • Integrated land use plan developed and implemented at province and local level • Climate smart agriculture technologies and practices promoted • Irrigation problem solved with water schemes • Established land bank concept for the proper use of land • Reduced fallow and abandoned land • Local seed system, Agro-biodiversity restored • Mainstreamed agro-biodiversity, food system and climate smart agriculture • Restored soil fertility (enhanced soil organic matter) • Improved course curriculum of schools and universities Roles and Responsibilities of 3 tiers Governments & Other Stakeholders: Federal government: • Development of relevant Acts/policies, • Focus on research/innovation, • Coordination with donors for financing Provincial government: • Development of province level policies/plans/strategies, • Design and implementation of province level program, • Piloting and model implementation, • Allocate required budget for the program Local government: • Development of local plan and programme related to food system, • Implementation and scaling up of program and models developed by provincial government, • Regular monitoring and reporting, • Data management at local level Private sectors including NGOs: • Support three tiers of governments for policy formulation and programme development • Collaboration with provincial governments for the implementation of programme and monitoring • Engage in value chain of agriculture produce (processing and marketing) Academic institutions: • Integration of agro-biodiversity and climate change in course curriculum • Engage in nature based research and development قراءة القليل

Discussion Topic AT4: Advance equitable livelihoods Context: Landless, smallholders, women, Dalits, indigenous people rely on agriculture and forest-based foods; many of them are unrecognized as farmers, underpaid and, or wage rates differ by gender. Deep rooted social and economic inequalities in employment opportunities increase vulnerability. Underlying causes affecting the stated proposition: Agriculture sector is seen as less remunerative and less attractive. The major reasons are of skewed power relation over productive resources especially of land, water, forest to women and disadvantag... قراءة المزيدed groups; land fragmentation and use of agricultural land for other purposes have reduced options to secure access and land rights of people in the value chain. Feminization of agriculture due to young male out-migration. Underlying Barriers for Achieving the Stated Proposition: • Lack of comprehensive understanding of agriculture, food and nutrition among the actors; • Migration of youth and male and feminization of agriculture tasks; • Inequality in access to production inputs specially for women, smallholders and people from remote areas; • No formal salary and wage rates for agriculture labors; • Inequality in employment, income, distribution etc.; • Lack of negotiation capacity of smallholders; • Social discriminatory norms and practices; • Disaster and vulnerability impacts women, vulnerable; • Agriculture, food, nutrition not in priority • Lack of technical human resources; • Poor value chain; no food banks. Actions for three years: • Establish proper distribution mechanism; employment creation; • Financing from both the government and private sectors; • Discourage fallow land keeping, promote land consolidation, land utilization, support landless for farming in public land and leased lands; • Diversify and promote nutritious local landraces; promote agro-tourism; • Establish equipment mobilization center; • Devise local need and priority specific policies for vulnerables; • Climate smart agriculture; • Subsidies as per the needs and priorities; • Promote high value crops; • Support in production, processing, storage and marketing of local and nutritious crops; • Devise targeted policies and programs; • Support for household /community food banks; • Fix minimum support price for major local crops, • Improve connectivity; • Data collection, documentation, management for farmer’s categorization and vulnerable groups for categorized services and financing; and • Establish women responsive mechanization. Assessing the success of Action: • Accessibility and support mechanisms to ensure equitable livelihoods to all; • The indicators to include health and nutrition; • Food security council at the provincial as per right to food and food sovereignty act; • A multi-stakeholder platform for coordination and cooperation; • Quality monitoring of food as well as amendment of policies and programs; • Feedback collected through the use of information technologies as well as public audits; • Monitoring based on results for both the government and non-government sectors; and • Gender equality and social inclusion will remain as cross cutting theme throughout the defined processes. Roles and Responsibilities of governments and other stakeholders: • All three tiers to implementation of existing policies and role clarities among them, proper coordination to understand, define and prioritize, plans and programs, provision of incentives as per the need of categorized group of farmers, as well as target for relief to vulnerable groups; • Federal government is responsible for defining umbrella policy, work plans as well as invest in capacity building of provincial and local level; • Provincial government to develop indicator and institutional mechanisms to monitor state of food security; coordination with both the federal and local governments, prepare strategic plans; and • Local govt. to prepare front line response strategy with proper data collection, mapping and quality assurance; • Local govt to introduce demonstration programs on home gardens at school level قراءة القليل

Discussion Topic AT5: Building resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks, and stresses Context: Current food system is under pressure from climate crisis, conflict, COVID-19 pandemics, economic shocks, natural disasters and environmental degradation, including food price hikes and disease-pests outbreaks. These shocks, stress and disaster can be devastating for poor and vulnerable people, who have limited resources and options. Climate induced and other natural disasters have significant impact on national economy. Lately, COVID-19 has contributed to increase unemployment, poverty and vulnerabilit... قراءة المزيدy including loss of livelihoods. The 2015 Earthquake increased number of food insecure people by 3.5 million. Therefore, building resilience means helping individuals, households and communities to mitigate, cope with and recover from shocks and stresses, so that they can become even better off than before. Underlying causes affecting the stated proposition: Natural and climate induced disasters; high post-production losses; weak supply chain; pandemics (COVID-19) and other epidemics. Economic shocks, like food price hikes and income losses due to pandemics and disasters. Climate induced natural disasters are increasing more than before due to haphazard road constructions, improper infrastructure development and accelerated process of urbanizations. Limited investment on R&D to reduce vulnerability and build resilience. Farmers and stakeholders lack adequate incentives for climate initiatives and green agriculture. High post-production losses, unsafe transportation and weak supply chain resulting in inadequate/late access of safe food in affordable prices for marginal, poor and low income groups. Epidemics/pandemic (such as diarrhea, COVID-19, etc) have increased vulnerability of poor, women, and marginalized households. Improper food habits with poor feeding practices. Poor, landless, and marginalized groups have settlements in vulnerable places (river banks, landslide prone areas). Preparation and readiness arrangements are weak. Underlying Barriers for Achieving the Stated Proposition: Environmental • Lack of EIA, unplanned road construction, mining of sand and stones from Chure hills Hazards: • Obstruction on supply chain, lack of trustworthy weather forecasting system, traditional system, lack of operation of an effective food system; lack of awareness, declining use of agricultural land Physical Infrastructure: • Poor storage, weak coordination in distribution system • Geographical remoteness • Absence of appropriate technologies • Lack of food bank operations Action for the next 3 years: Policies and Programs: • Land use and fallow land utilization policies • Special program for target groups • Food banks ( household and community food banks) Investment: • Targeted investment for risky sector and group • Adoption of climate friendly /smart agricultural-food system • Implementation of environmentally friendly programs Assessing the success of Action: • Participatory program and monitoring implemented • Integrated information system and Early Warning System established • Advance action plans prepared Roles and responsibilities of Governments and other Stakeholders: Federal Government: • Formulation of umbrella policy and action plans • National Capacity building • Coordination with national multi-stakeholders. Provincial Government: • Coordination with Federal and Local Government • Preparation of strategic action plans • Mobilization of technical manpower • Developing storage facilities Local Government: • Local strategy and frontline response in disaster Strategy development • Data collection and database management • Mapping of natural disasters and other events • Provisioning of quality local services قراءة القليل

Discussion Topic AT6: Right to Food and Food Sovereignty Act-a legal framework for sustainable food systems in Nepal Context: Nepal has developed legal framework to ensure good governance of food systems and transform them. The right to food and food sovereignty is enshrined in the constitution, and the government has given priority to ensure safe and nutritious food to all in a sustainable manner. The Right to Food and Food Sovereignty Act accommodates all ATs and provides as a legal framework for the resilient, equitable and sustainable food systems in Nepal. Underlying causes affecting the ... قراءة المزيدstated proposition: Limited consultations with stakeholders, while formulating the Act; outcomes of the consultations were not widely shared. In general, policies are often prepared in rush, and with less attention to preparing action plan. Lack of organized efforts in the implementation of policies. Poor accountability measures on the implementation of laws/policies. Governments, particularly at local levels lack technical capacity to prepare laws and policies. Underlying Barriers to Achieve the Stated Proposition: • Lack of awareness among the stakeholders about the Act • No effective implementation of Act • Lack of effective mechanism and structure to implement by multi-stakeholders • Lack of mandatory provision for coordination among the multi-stakeholders in the Act for taking accountability • No proper management of statistics and information for its effective implementation (collection, analysis, and use in planning, etc.) • No clear roles and responsibilities delineated for the stakeholders. Action for the next 3 years: • Specify the action areas (roles and responsibilities) for each government • Formulate regulation, and action plan and develop institutional structure to implement the Act • Create awareness among the stakeholders • Make mandatory provision for effective coordination (among the stakeholders) • Collection and management of statistics for implementation of Act. • Prepare and orient the programs to be implemented by the Municipalities. • Manage buffer stock of food during emergency and disasters Assessing the success of Action: • Development of indicators and institution for monitoring • Establish province food council and entrust for monitoring • Arrange for multi-stakeholder monitoring • Initiate the process of monitoring of the major aspects/indicators related to health, food security and nutrition (Hunger Index, Obesity, stunting, micronutrients etc.) Roles and responsibilities of Governments and other Stakeholders: Federal government: • Clarify the roles and responsibilities of the provincial and local governments • Make provision of necessary legal aspect and policies • Capacity building of provinces and local levels and provide necessary support • Carrying out research and update information • Timely M&E • Maintain linkages/relationships at international level and with multi-stakeholders • Prepare quality indicators and standards • Initiate appropriate process to implement the provisions of Act Provincial and Local governments: • Implementation of policies and regulations • Maintain effective coordination • Collection and management of Statistics • Create awareness and dissemination about the provision of the Act Other Stakeholders: • Adoption of the provisions of legal instruments • Create awareness and dissemination about the provision of the Act قراءة القليل

There was no marked observation on the areas of divergence.

Discussion Topic AT2: Shift to sustainable consumption patterns. Context: About 4.6 million people are food insecure in Nepal. Prevalence of triple burden of malnutrition-under nutrition, overweight/ obesity, and micronutrient deficiency in the country. Stunting, wasting and low weight in children contributing to 52 percent of child mortality; obesity among children and adolescents has increased by 29 times in the past four decades; women and children also suffer from some of the world’s highest levels of vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Underlying causes affecting the stated proposition: C... قراءة المزيدhange in dietary pattern characterized by two-meal-rice (per capita rice consumption increased by nearly 70% in 50 years). Dietary shift towards unhealthy processed foods high in saturated and trans-fat, salt and sugar. Increase in fat intake in diet and undernutrition in childhood has coincided with increased overweight/ obesity and other Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD); over two-thirds of adolescent girls in both rural and urban areas reported consuming sugary foods. Consumption of foods produced by using high dose chemical fertilizers and pesticides; items, such as biscuits, instant noodles and juice drinks may be supplying about a quarter of energy intake of children <2 years, which is lowering their intake of essential vitamins and minerals. Underlying Barriers for Achieving the Stated Proposition: • Inadequate research and information about the nutritive value of underutilized/indigenous crops and commodities • No food and culinary research of indigenous crops • Less knowledge about the product diversification and no value adding activities to the locally available foods, • No alternative search for the preparation of the alcoholic beverage instead of cereals. • No inclusion of consumption behavior and food and nutrition delivery system in existing school education system • Home culture does not promote the changes in food system • Lack of research and information on the naturally available foodstuffs • Inadequate food technologists and inspectors for monitoring of the food quality • No explicit policy to conduct research on foods and very less budget allocation for it. • Lack of identification of practices for reducing/minimizing post-production losses Actions for three years: • Formulate policies to utilize the locally produced foods at the local level • Regulate and more taxing to the ultra-processed foods • GIS mapping for statistical updating and improvement • Processing, value addition, marketing, and storage of indigenous crops/commodities • Preparing a roster of consumable/edible commodities and emphasize for their conservation, promotion, and utilization • Laboratory strengthening along with technical knowledge and management of the manpower • Awareness raising programs to change the food habits • Identification of wild/forest-based foods, their research, conservation and seed multiplication • School feeding program to link with production, market regulation and markets • Coordination with the farmers to formulate the programs as per their needs and demand • Provision of soft loan programs to promote agricultural value chains Assessing the success of Action: • Effective implementation of food Acts and regulation and preparation of food standards • Ensuring access to nutritious foods • Access to markets and storage • Creating a framework for participatory monitoring and evaluation • Development of Food management information system • Identification of key indicators for quality food system • Developing input system, markets, and marketing management system • Dedicated public institutions for post-production handling of food products • Technical support system for inputs and outputs Roles and Responsibilities of governments and other stakeholders: • Federal: Formulation of polices and regulations • Province: Formulation of polices /regulations, and their implementation • Local government: Implementation of policies and regulations and documentation • Private sector: Investment in food industries and ensuring the supply of quality food products • Farmers: Produce raw materials required for the agro-based industry قراءة القليل

Discussion Topic AT3: Boost nature-positive food production at scale Context: Increased biodiversity losses, deforestation and land degradation are major problems. One third of agricultural lands are fallow and degraded, and a large portion are converted to settlements and infrastructure. Poverty has forced households in forest and pastureland encroachment. Production of major staples and commercial vegetables in some pockets has caused excessive mining of soil nutrients, water depletion and agrochemical pollution. Food habits mostly towards rice and wheat have led to a narrow dietary diversit... قراءة المزيدy. Underlying Barriers for Achieving the Stated Proposition: • Climate change impact and lack of effective technologies for climate change adaptation • Fragmentation and degradation of agricultural land, depletion of water sources • Loss of local knowledge and skills due to changes in food habits • Reduction in agrobiodiversity and loss of indigenous crop varieties and animal breeds • Inadequate and inappropriate management of soil fertility • Lack of management of reliable diversified agricultural markets • Poor management of household and urban wastes • Keeping agricultural land fallow due to urban and oversea migration of youth • Lack of conducive policies and plans for agricultural production based on agroecological zoning and potentials • Pollution to soil, water and air due to haphazard use of agrochemicals • Degradation of pasture /range lands in Himalayan region • Existing policies not providing adequate incentives to promote local agrobiodiversity Actions for the next 3 years: • Effective enforcement of land use act and regulation • Agrobiodiversity research and development program implementation • Formulation of needed policy, strategy and research for nature positive food system • Formulate and implement suitable policy on fallow land utilization • Diversification in forest lands for promoting food production • improve and restore soil fertility in degraded lands • Improvement and promotion of pasture /rangelands for livestock production in high mountains • Identification of important critical and degraded watersheds for protection • Development of value chain of locally produced foods • Strengthening local seed system mobilizing community seed banks • Develop and implement policy and action plans by linking organic and ecological farming with tourism and health • Focus on conducting research on agrobiodiversity and organic farming. • Develop and promote eco-zone specific climate smart technologies in partnership with local government • Implement programs for local food production and food recipes preparation for running school meal and nutrition programs at the local level. Assessing the success of Action: • Agricultural land being protected with the implementation of land use /management program • Program planned and being implemented considering climate risks • Increased production and availability of organic and ecological products at the local markets • Establishment of community seed banks and local varieties being registered for their promotion • Program planning and budgeting being implemented at the provincial and local level by mainstreaming agrobiodiversity, organic and climate smart agriculture • Improved soil fertility and increased organic matter in the soils • Increased number of productive livestock and productivity in the high mountain region Roles/responsibilities of 3 tiers Governments & Other Stakeholders: • Federal Government: Development of policy, regulation and directives for community seed bank, local variety registration, source seed maintenance and commercialization • Provincial Government: Formulation of operational guidelines and directives • Local Government: Community mobilization for implementation of community seed banks, resource leverage and budget allocation. • NGOs/CBOs: Social mobilization, technical support in community seed bank, diversity block maintenance and organization of agrobiodiversity fairs and farmers diversity field school implementation • Private: Seed marketing, processing, value addition and marketing of local seed based nutritious food product قراءة القليل

Discussion Topic AT4: Advance equitable livelihoods of people involved in food systems Context: Landless, smallholders, women, Dalits, indigenous people rely on agriculture and forest-based foods; many of them are unrecognized as farmers, underpaid and, or wage rates differ by gender. Deep rooted social and economic inequalities in employment opportunities increase vulnerability. Inadequate institutional mechanisms for and limited capacity of women, small holders, old-age, people with disability (PWD), internally displaced people (IDPs) to claim their rights, they have less access to productio... قراءة المزيدn resources, space for voice, negotiation power in the market systems. Underlying causes affecting the stated proposition: Agriculture sector is seen as less remunerative and less attractive. The major reasons are of skewed power relation over productive resources especially of land, water, forest to women and disadvantaged groups; land fragmentation and use of agricultural land for other purposes have reduced options to secure access and land rights of people in the value chain. Feminization of agriculture due to young male out-migration. Underlying Barriers for Achieving the Stated Proposition: • The availability of food for all is lesser; • Lack of proper nutritious diet, child under-nourishment, overweight; • Food processor business groups are engaged in highly processed food, • Local landraces/crops/foods are less known and promoted; • Lack of research on food, culinary arts, food diversity and value additions; • Cereals used in liquors; • Dominance of middle persons in food price settings and market management, • School education system and family culture not oriented to proper food habits; • Lack of ecological zone-based prioritization, soil degradation, pasture/grazing land degradation; • No adequate targeted programs for poor and vulnerable groups. Actions for three years: • Capacity building and effective implementation of land use Act and Regulations, • Development and implementation of agri-biodiversity based research and development; • Development of eco zones specific policies and action plans promoting local foods; • Policy and program to use fallow lands; • Diversify food products/crops/recipes including utilizing forest spaces; • Promote local crops-based value chains specially of enterprises and businesses promoted and led by women, cooperatives, youths etc.; • Land leasing for poor and marginalized groups; • Promote climate smart agriculture system; • Promotion of nutrition gardens for family nutrition; • Awareness raising about local crop based nutritious foods; establish seed banks and food banks; • Manage relief programs that are transparent and inclusive. Assessing the success of Action: • Land use plan; • Agricultural land protection; • Climate risk-based agriculture system; • Local crops and foods in market; • Mainstream agriculture biodiversity; • Organic farming in food system; • Soil organic matter improved; and • Livestock-based food diversity specially in high altitudes; functional community seed banks; and registered local crops. Roles and Responsibilities of governments and other stakeholders: • Federal government to focus on policies, mobilization of development partners, invest in research and innovation, coordinate for financing as well as stabilize price for staple food items; • Establish institutional arrangement made in the Right to Food and Food Sovereignty Act • Provincial govt: prepare provincial policies and implement guidelines, make financing and program design for inter-municipality coordination, data management, support agri-based enterprising and marketing; • Local governments: implement programs, monitoring, reporting with proper data management on food security status; manage food bank and local seed bank to ensure equitable access for all, and mobilize public private partnership as well as cooperatives • Private sector to invest in value chain development of agri-based and safe food enterprising, marketing and job creation; • Academic institutions to integrate agriculture biodiversity in course curriculum and research; • NGOs/CBOs in social mobilization قراءة القليل

Discussion Topic AT5: Building resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks, and stresses Context: Current food system is under pressure from climate crisis, conflict, COVID-19 pandemics, economic shocks, natural disasters and environmental degradation, including food price hikes and disease-pests outbreaks. Climate induced and other natural disasters have significant impact on national economy. Lately, COVID-19 has contributed to increase unemployment, poverty and vulnerability including loss of livelihoods. The 2015 Earthquake increased number of food insecure people by 3.5 million. Underlying caus... قراءة المزيدes affecting the stated proposition: Natural and climate induced disasters; high post-production losses; weak supply chain; pandemics (COVID-19) and other epidemics. Economic shocks, like food price hikes and income losses due to pandemics and disasters. Climate induced natural disasters are increasing more than before due to haphazard road constructions, improper infrastructure development and accelerated process of urbanizations. Limited investment on R&D to reduce vulnerability and build resilience. Farmers and stakeholders lack adequate incentives for climate initiatives and green agriculture. High post-production losses, unsafe transportation and weak supply chain resulting in inadequate/late access of safe food in affordable prices for marginal, poor and low income groups. Epidemics/pandemic (such as diarrhea, COVID-19, etc) have increased vulnerability of poor, women, and marginalized households. Improper food habits with poor feeding practices. Poor, landless, and marginalized groups have settlements in vulnerable places (river banks, landslide prone areas). Preparation and readiness arrangements are weak. Underlying Barriers for Achieving the Stated Proposition: • Agriculture not being remunerative profession, high import dependency • Changes in food culture • Lack of promotion of local production of foods • Weak food storage and distribution system • Increased negative effect of climate change • Lack of storage /conservation of local seeds at the local level and high dependency on imported hybrid seeds • Lack of adoption of farmer’s friendly technologies and practices • Lack of harmonization of policy among different sectors and ministry (eg. Forest-livestock-people interface) • Lack of effective preparation and preplanning for disaster risks reduction Actions for the next 3 years: • Use of agriculture technologies, innovations and mechanization for cost-effective competitive food production and marketing • Use of diverse public awareness, communication, sensitization an education programs and mechanisms for the development resilient, equitable and sustainable food system • Remove restrictions for all food system production and supply mechanisms during crisis (eg. COVID-19 lock down) • Establishment and operationalization of food banks and seed banks. • Implementation of climate mitigation and adaptation programs and projects • Carry out research and development suited to local agroecology • Reform and revision in policies and legislations for resilient food system development and reduce the vulnerability of vulnerable people • Planning and advance preparation of risk reduction plans and programs Assessing the success of Action: • Evidence in policy, programs, and budget speech • Quarterly and annual progress report • Periodic monitoring and evaluation jointly with multi-stakeholders • Health and nutrition related indicates Roles and Responsibilities of 3 tiers Governments and Other Stakeholders: • Federal Government: Multisectoral disaster response unit, Early warning system, Emergency fund management, Policy alignment. • Provincial Government: Farmers’ friendly research based on local land and agroecological context, Land bank establishment and operation, Extension of Climate Smart Technologies • Local Government: Disaster risk assessment, use of new agriculture technologies, mechanization, community seed banks establishment, and ensure enhanced equitable access to them. • Concerned Stakeholders: Awareness program, joint monitoring and public-private partnership قراءة القليل

Discussion Topic AT6: Right to Food and Food Sovereignty Act-a legal framework for sustainable food systems in Nepal Context: Nepal has developed legal framework to ensure good governance of food systems and transform them. The right to food and food sovereignty is enshrined in the constitution, and the government has given priority to ensure safe and nutritious food to all in a sustainable manner. The Right to Food and Food Sovereignty Act accommodates all ATs and provides as a legal framework for the resilient, equitable and sustainable food systems in Nepal. Underlying causes affecting the ... قراءة المزيدstated proposition: Lack of organized efforts in the implementation of policies. Poor accountability measures on the implementation of laws/policies. Governments, particularly at local levels lack technical capacity to prepare laws and policies. Underlying Barriers to Achieve the Stated Proposition: • No regulation formulated to implement the provisions of the Act • Delay in the revision of the Food Act by the Federal government • No formation of Provincial Food Council and Local Food Coordination Committee • Not yet provided the identification card to poor and farmers as per the Act • No seriousness in implementation and monitoring the provision of the Act • Inadequate awareness raising activities by the government about the Act • No assurance of food storage and marketing of the food grains • Lack of skilled/trained human resources at the local level • No identification of the needs of different categories of the farmers as they are not classified yet. • Inadequate availability of resources and logistics to implement the Act. Actions for the next 3 years: • Formulation of Regulation to implement the provisions of the Act • Formation of Provincial Food Council and Local Food Coordination Committee soon • Awareness raising activities by the government about the quality of the food products • Formulation of Food Act at the provincial and local level and mention provision for the facilitation of production and marketing of locally produced commodities. • Distribution of the identification card to poor and farmers • Spell out the coordination mechanism among the three tiers of the government in the Regulation Assessing the success of Action: • Formation of an effective mechanism for implementation and monitoring of the provisions of the Act • Implementation of awareness raising and capacity building programs. • Publication of the Monitoring Indicators • Assurance of timely supply of production inputs • Food rights to be recognized, protected and promoted. Roles and Responsibilities of 3 tiers Governments and Other Stakeholders: • Federal government: Formulation of Regulation to implement the provisions of the Act, Stabilize the price of basic foodstuffs. • Provincial government: Formation of Food Council • Local government: Formation of Food Coordination Committee • All Governments: Management for food storage, buffer stocking and distribution, Coordination for maintaining quality and standards for food, Policy and system improvement for ensuring access to foods. • Other stakeholders: Coordination, collaboration, and partnerships with governments قراءة القليل

There was no marked observation on the areas of divergence.