Nepal became a member of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on November 21, 1951. Since that time, Nepal and FAO have been cooperating to improve the agricultural and rural development in the country.
The achievements of many years of cooperation is an opportune moment to reflect upon the successes achieved over those years while at the same time reaffirming the commitment and enthusiasm to maintain the momentum into the future. During more than 64 years almost 300 projects have been implemented by the organization, embracing a broad range of programmes related to crop, vegetables, forestry, livestock, fishery, food safety, nutrition, planning, policy, rural development and environment conservation.
Likewise, through its Emergency Center, FAO has been assisting the Government of Nepal in strengthening its capacities to control and contain transboundary animal diseases such as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Towards that end a Regional Support Unit has already been established in Kathmandu.. This unit is contributing towards strengthening and empowering the SAARC member states to deliver improved and quality veterinary and public health services in an effort to prevent, control and eradicate highly pathogenic and emerging disease.
FAO is a supporting the Government of Nepal in an integrated approach to address its immediate priorities through capacity building, institutional improvement, food security-related issues, agriculture and rural development. Currently, FAO is supporting the Government of Nepal in operationalizing the Agriculture Perspective Plan (APP), which was approved in 1995 and that covers a period up to 2015. It also is collaborating with other development partners in supporting the Government of Nepal in formulating an Agriculture Development Strategy and a National Food and Nutrition Security Plan, both of which have a vision for next 20 years.