𝗕𝗵𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗻’𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗲

𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐅𝐀𝐃:

The Hon’ble Sonam Lyonpo discussed Bhutan’s long-standing partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), which has supported the country for over 43 years. With nine completed projects totaling USD 144.55 million, IFAD has been instrumental in supporting poverty alleviation and agrifood systems. The ongoing Commercial Agriculture and Resilient Livelihoods Enhancement Programme (CARLEP) and the Building Resilient Commercial Smallholder Agriculture (BRECSA) program are examples of successful collaborations. Lyonpo expressed gratitude for IFAD’s consistent support and solicited further assistance for future projects, including the Bhutan AgriSustain Fund, a new sustainable financing mechanism to enhance food systems.

𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐀𝐎 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐆𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐬

In a significant engagement, Hon’ble Lyonpo met with Stefanos Fotiou, Director of the FAO Office of Sustainable Development Goals, to explore avenues for advancing the country’s sustainable development initiatives. The discussion centered on the strategic allocation of funding, set to be available in early 2025, aimed at enhancing capacity building, fostering innovative success models, and strengthening collaboration through dialogue facilitation.

Key areas of focus include driving agricultural innovation through science and technology and improving market access for farmers, with an emphasis on delivering measurable outcomes by late 2025. The funding will be designed to support Bhutan’s broader efforts to build a resilient and sustainable agrifood system.

These engagements underscore Bhutan’s commitment to advancing its agrifood systems through strategic partnerships and sustainable development, aligning with global goals to ensure long-term food security and agricultural resilience.