Poverty becomes history in 10 years: PM Oli
Kathmandu, March 13: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said no Nepali would die of hunger and malnutrition after ten years, for the poverty would be eradicated from the country.
Prime Minister Oli said this while inaugurating a programme relating to the zero hunger challenge initiative by 2025 here Sunday. With the increase in agricultural productions, people’s dependency on agriculture would grow, he added.
The PM said, “Use of barren land, irrigation, fertilizer and improved seeds and the modernization and commercialization of agriculture is government’s top priority.”
On the occasion, PM Oli and Director General of the World Food Organisation, Jose Grazino da Silva, jointly inaugurated the programme releasing the report.
The report has incorporated different issues like distribution of foodstuff at different phases, stress on production of local agriculture productions, use of barren land, irrigation facility and guarantee of markets, among others.
According to the United Nations World Food Organisation, more than 87 million people are victim of starvation and malnutrition across the globe. Unequal distribution of foodstuff and discrimination are the main causes behind it.
At the programme, Minister for Agriculture Development, Haribol Gajurel, said around six million people in Nepal have been facing problems for a square of meal. They, however, have been facing the problem for lack of change in their food habit.
Similarly, Vice-Chairman of the National Planning Commission, Dr Yubraj Khatiwada, said the fertile land of Nepal should be brought to use while the WFO Director General said that food sovereignty is rights of people.
According to the WFO, malnutrition in Nepal is high compared to other countries across the globe. Forty-one per cent children below five years are stunted.
Most of the children from hilly and mountainous areas are suffering from malnutrition. Some 46 per cent population has been suffering it.