United States announces new food security plan & $21 million project to benefit Nepali farmers

KATHMANDU: Today, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Government of Nepal announced the up to $21 million USAID Agricultural Direct Financing project, a government-to-government, on-treasury agreement to advance food security.

At the event, the U.S. Government’s new five-year Global Food Security Strategy (GFSS) Nepal Country Plan 2024-2028 was also introduced, outlining the U.S. Government’s approach to improving food and nutritional security in Nepal.

The USAID Agricultural Direct Financing project will strengthen Nepal’s ability to plan and execute agricultural development programs, working through federal, state, and municipal governments in Lumbini and Sudurpaschim States.

The project will support 69,000 households across 53,000 hectares to adopt new technologies and agricultural practices to improve production.

The new GFSS Nepal Country Plan 2024-2028 aims to transform agriculture and food systems to sustainably reduce poverty, hunger, and malnutrition. The new country plan introduces a new Zone of Influence covering 26 districts spanning the Terai region and selected hill districts and will expand the U.S. Government’s agriculture development work to Madhesh province to better reach Nepal’s most vulnerable populations.

Addressing the launch event, U.S. Ambassador to Nepal Dean Thompson said, “This new GFSS Nepal Country Plan will strengthen the United States’ existing partnership with Nepal, the private sector, and communities to achieve inclusive, resilient, and sustainable growth–and our new government-to-government agreement is an example of our collective dedication to advancing food security in Nepal”.

Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Ramnath Adhikari, stated, “Today’s launch marks a significant milestone in a long-standing partnership between Nepal and the United States”. Minister Adhikari emphasized Nepal’s commitment to this collaboration, highlighting the joint efforts of both governments to advance food security and promote sustainable development.

Since 2011, the U.S. Government’s Feed the Future projects have supported over $181 million in food security programs, benefiting more than 800,000 Nepalis through improved agricultural productivity, increased sales, and better nutrition.

These initiatives have led to a 71 percent reduction in poverty and a 39 percent decrease in child stunting. For more information, please contact Ms. Zehra Naqvi, Spokesperson and Information Officer, U.S. Embassy Nepal, Email: [email protected].