Kathmandu, 20th January: Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa has said that it is necessary for the concerned bodies to pay attention to the conservation and promotion of agricultural biodiversity as well as the marketing of indigenous food.
On the occasion of the conclusion of the third ‘National Biodiversity Week-2081’ organized by the Gastronomy Tourism Association of Nepal today, he expressed confidence that the issue of agricultural biodiversity will be included in the Agriculture Act to be introduced by the government.
General Secretary Thapa emphasized that the new act being prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture should consider indigenous seeds, products, and the conservation of agricultural biodiversity as the fundamental basis of agriculture.
He said, “The issues of climate change and forest conservation have been raised with great importance, but the issue of agricultural organics has been overlooked. Now, in the context of the Agricultural Act being drafted, there is an opportunity to bring it to the center, and this requires everyone’s active participation.”
General Secretary Thapa expressed confidence that allowing foreign tourists to taste Nepal’s traditional cuisine would help promote Nepal’s tourism. He said that tourism should be promoted by combining the food, lifestyle, culinary arts and culture of all ethnic groups and communities.
On the occasion, Senior Chef Govinda Narsingh KC pointed out the need for the new generation to pay attention to the preservation and promotion of traditional food. He mentioned that food exhibitions have been organized in various countries to promote Nepali food in the global market and this has helped in the promotion of Nepali food.
Shriram Adhikari, advisor to the Gastronomy Tourism Association, said that the use of indigenous dishes should be widely increased for a healthy life and the environment. Advocate Balram Rijal of the Center for Crop Development and Agricultural Biodiversity Conservation pointed out the need for all stakeholders to pay attention to its promotion as the importance of agricultural biodiversity is linked to agriculture, health, tourism, etc.
Saroj Baniya, founding chairperson of Nepal Youth Council, said that the youth generation should be active in the production and promotion of indigenous seeds and crops as well as in the conservation of biodiversity. Shyam Lama, former chairperson of the Safe Association of Nepal, expressed the view that food tourism should be promoted through indigenous food products.
Dr. Alok Prasai, Senior Advisor at the Bagmati Province Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, emphasized the need to broaden the partnership between the government and the private sector in the conservation and promotion of agricultural biodiversity.
Gastronomy Tourism Association President Ramesh Bhandari said that the Biodiversity Conservation Day has been celebrated for the past five years with the aim of promoting Nepali cuisine internationally. He said that the organization has been conducting various promotional campaigns for the conservation and promotion of the traditional cuisine of the Himalayas, hills and Terai.
