KATHMANDU: Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba returned to Nepal today after participating in the 44th session of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Conference held in Rome, Italy.
The high-level ministerial gathering took place from June 28 to July 4.
During her visit, Dr. Rana addressed several key sessions of the FAO Conference as well as a number of high-level meetings and side events.
In her remarks, she highlighted Nepal’s commitment to food rights, stating that the country has recognized food as a fundamental right of its citizens through constitutional and legal provisions.
She highlighted Nepal is ensuring safe and high-quality food through regulatory standards, laboratory surveillance, and consumer protection mechanisms under its national food safety and quality control policies.
Speaking on behalf of Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and landlocked nations, Dr. Rana drew global attention to the impacts of climate change on countries like Nepal.
She called for international solidarity to support vulnerable nations facing severe food insecurity and nutrition challenges due to climate-related disruptions.
Dr. Rana also made a strong appeal for climate finance, urging that countries such as Nepal—which are facing disproportionate impacts of climate change, particularly in Himalayan regions—be granted access to climate finance in the form of grants.
She stressed the need for sustainable agricultural systems tailored to mountain ecosystems and reiterated Nepal’s demand for grant-based international support to ensure food security and climate resilience.
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