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Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Ramnath Adhikari said that the government is committed to ensuring the right to food as a fundamental right as a welfare state.

Addressing an inaugural session and ministerial roundtable of the UN Food Systems Summit Stocktake (UNFSS+4) held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from July 27-29, Minister Adhikari asserted that the right to food has been enshrined as a fundamental right by the Nepal's Constitution. 

The minister also apprised the delegates of the summit that the government of Nepal has issued the Food Rights and Sovereignty Act and related regulations to enact the Right to Food.

Minister Adhikari noted, "It is not only a legal provision but also a political and ethical responsibility which will guide the national efforts."

He emphasized the need for a small economy like Nepal to develop the local food system and strengthen it to tackle the problems emanating from climate-related vulnerabilities, fragile mountainous terrain, degraded ecosystem, loss of biodiversity, rising food and agricultural imports and increasing consumption of unhealthy foods among others.

Shedding light on various government initiatives to support and empower the local farmers, women and youths as a part of development of local food system and strengthening program, the minister mentioned that priority has been accorded to the production of nutritious local and indigenous crops and development of value chain.

He also informed about the government's initiatives to incorporate locally produced food items in the school midday meal which, he added, had contributed in addressing the malnutrition among the school-going children thereby positively impacting their learning outcomes.

This effort, according to him, had also supported the rural economy and aiding the development of a resilient local food system. 

He shared about various sustainable and resilient agricultural practices being exercised and promoted in Nepal such as environment friendly agriculture, organic farming, climate-friendly agriculture and agricultural biodiversity and agroforestry systems.

He said that Nepal, as a low-income country, lacks the financial and institutional strength to transform its current food system into a sustainable, resilient and inclusive one in order to improve food security and nutrition. 

Highlighting the growing challenges caused by climate change in food production and the security system, the minister called for international support to address these issues.

Speaker Devraj Ghimire has said power of the Parliament rests on digital access and public trust. 

He said this in the 'Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments' organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the United Nations (UN) in Geneva, Switzerland on July 29-31 today. 

Delivering his remarks on the topic 'What will be the role of parliamentarians in shaping our digital future?'Ghimire noted, "The strength of the Parliament today is not merely in the papers but rests on digital access and public trust". 

Highlighting the need of increasing budget in the technology sector, he said it has been of utmost importance to assure resources in digital infrastructure, cyber security, internet literacy and data protection. 

He argued that the Parliament should be developed as a leading institution rather than keeping itself behind in the era of digital transformation. 

"The parliamentarians have been successful in straightly holding dialogue with the citizens and receive their responses through social networking sites and digital media, as well as reflect the people's mandate in policy formulation", he shared. 

“However, the challenge of misusing technology for spreading misinformation and propaganda are on the rise. Parliaments have the responsibility to promote digital literacy along with the use of technology”, Ghimire mentioned. 

Speaker Ghimire expressed confidence that Parliaments can make their operations more effective by practicing technologies like machine learning, data centers, digitization, and speech-to-text technology, and that such technologies will strengthen the relationship between the parliament and the public. 

“I would like to inform you that a study is being conducted on the use of artificial intelligence in legislative management in the federal Parliament  of Nepal”, the Speaker shared, adding, “We are working on the artificial intelligence bill and the social media bill in the country. 

He informed that digital technology has provided an important opportunity to enhance the transparency, efficiency, and public participation in the functioning of the parliament. 

Technologies like online broadcasting, e-parliament systems, digital records, and electronic voting systems have contributed to the effective operations of the Parliament. 

Nepal has formulated six strategies to address the challenges that it is set to face once it graduates from the Least Developed Country (LDC) status. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli informed the National Assembly on Wednesday that all six strategies are in place.

These plans are to be implemented by various committees established to carry out these strategies: a high-level steering committee under the PM, an implementation and coordination committee under the Vice-chairperson of the National Planning Commission, a federal evaluation committee under Chief Secretary, and provincial-level implementation committees under Chief Ministers.

The government plans to reenact and lower a few laws while legislating new ones in a way that will move in harmony and sustainably, Oli said, responding to queries during a discussion in the National Assembly on the post-graduation scenario.

According to Oli, Nepal is working to make its external relations robust by effective diplomatic efforts internationally, strengthening the enforcement of international treaties and gaining international solidarity through bilateral and multilateral relations. He also stated that opportunities are opening for more investment and concessionary credit.

The state government is also geared toward overhauling legislation on public procurement and construction policy, institutional and personal capacity building, and infrastructure and connectivity upgrade to transform Nepal from a landlocked country into a land-linked country. In addition, there are attempts to stimulate value chains through multinational companies.

Oli said that measures have been devised to mitigate the impacts of graduation in the private sector, labor and employment, and trade. All sectors, he added, will be facilitated by the government in making the transition sustainable.

Oli expressed confidence that Nepal’s graduation would raise the nation’s global standing and herald efforts toward self-reliance. “It’s a point of happiness. This shows that Nepal is becoming self-sufficient. Our country rating index will also be better, and the investment climate will be strengthened further,” he added.

He also went on to say that LDC graduation would enhance Nepal’s economic diplomacy by hosting events such as Sagarmatha Sambaad and investment forums. Since bilateral trade and cooperation of Nepal are dominant, the direct impact of the graduation in this sector will be minimal in the short term, he said.

Nepal has been on the UN list of Least Developed Countries since 18 Nov 1971. It has taken 55 years, and the country is graduating in the year 2026. Nepal, the LDC group chair of 45 countries at present, has been undertaking a process for graduation from the LDC status since 2010 through regular plans and programs.

Oli explained that Nepal had progressed in the Economic and Environmental Vulnerability Index and Human Assets Index, as assessed by the UN in 2015, 2018, and 2021. 

He noted that some benefits Nepal derives as an LDC—such as preferential trade from the World Trade Organization, UN special facilities and concessions from bilateral partners such as the EU and World Bank—could be restricted after graduation. The same could be true in the sectors of health and education also.

Referring to challenges such as global warming and natural disasters, Oli said the government has already embarked on diplomacy through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and initiated a transition plan smoothly through the National Planning Commission. Emphasizing the commitment of the government, he said: “Some claim the government is doing nothing, but this is not true. We are already making significant strides.”

CPN-UML has allocated responsibilities for the management of its second statute convention to be held in September.

Responsibilities have been entrusted to the central leaders to make the convention a success, informed UML central office secretary Bhishma Adhikari.

According to him, the meeting held on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Secretary General Shankar Pokhrel assigned the organizational department to determine the number of representatives for the convention.

Similarly, the responsibility for the management of health has been assigned to Krishna Gopal Shrestha, the head of the Health and Population Department.

Likewise, the responsibility for volunteer mobilization has been assigned to Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal, the coordinator of the people's organization, and the management of the secretariat and food has been assigned to Adhikari, the office secretary, it has been informed.

The responsibility for the promotion of the general convention has been given to Rajendra Gautam, the head of the Promotion and Publication Department, while central member Hemraj Rai will handle the welcome dance and various cultural programs.

Central member Binod Shrestha will take charge of transportation and platform management affairs.

Delegates of the general convention will have to arrange their own accommodation, according to the decision. If delegates are unable to arrange accommodation on their own, the relevant district or provincial contact coordination committee shall be responsible for the management.

Leader Lalbabu Pandit has been entrusted with the responsibility of the department for this.

A total of 2,279 delegates have been designated for the party's second statutory general convention, which will take place on September 5-7 at the Sunrise Hall in Godawari, Lalitpur.