Kathmandu, September 17
Leaders of family farming from 15 Asian countries began a 6-day workshop on Tuesday, focusing on the theme of Advancing climate financing for climate resiliency with family farmers’ organizations. The workshop, which aligns with the Asian Farmers Association’s (AFA) 11th General Assembly, is being hosted by the National Land Rights Forum-Nepal (NLRF), the Central Tea Cooperative Federation (CTCF), and their partner NGO, the Community Self Reliance Center (CSRC).
Balram Adhikari, Minister of Land Management, Cooperatives, and Poverty Alleviation, chaired the inauguration. In his remarks, Minister Adhikari emphasized the crucial role of family farmers in addressing agricultural challenges and climate change, noting that platforms like this can promote resilient agriculture and optimal land use.
“Food is directly connected with health. There have been health issues with the use of chemicals and fertilizers. Farmers can share practices. Farmers are to be made leaders if we want to move forward,” he stated.
In a written message, Ramnath Adhikari, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Development, reaffirmed the Nepal government’s commitment to food self-reliance, especially supporting landless and small-scale farmers. He announced the declaration of an “Investment Decade” in agriculture, aiming to boost investment from the government, private sector, cooperatives, and development partners to enhance productivity.
Altantuya Tseden-Ish, Chairperson of AFA, highlighted the limited climate financing available to farmers, stating, “Only 2 per cent of climate financing goes directly to farmers through their organizations. There is very little support to help us cope with climate effects, hindering our capacities to be climate resilient. We need help if we are to produce healthy and adequate food for society.”
