With support from the Hand-in-Hand Initiative, the Madhesh Food Forum 2025 secured a USD 37.9 million investment to drive agrifood transformation in Nepal

11.06.2025
 

The Madhesh Food Forum 2025, held from 9 to 11 June in Dhanusha concluded with groundbreaking commitments that position the province at the forefront of Nepal’s agricultural transformation. Jointly organized by the Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives (MoLMAC) of Madhesh Province and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the event brought together over 400 stakeholders and marked a pivotal moment for the country’s food security and agrifood systems development.

Organized under the FAO’s flagship Hand-in-Hand Initiative, the event aimed to accelerate inclusive and climate-resilient agricultural transformation by leveraging evidence-based analysis, targeted investments, and strengthened partnerships. 

This global initiative provided strategic backing to local efforts, aligning Madhesh Province’s development vision with the broader goals of food security, rural prosperity, and sustainable growth.

Signing ceremony: Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FNCCI) commits USD 7.3 million towards Agri-Processing, Paddy, Spices, and Mechanization at the Madhesh Food Forum 2025.

A major highlight was the announcement of USD 37.9 million in investment commitments across critical sectors including agriculture, forestry, food processing, and cold storage. 

These investments, formalized through partnerships between investors and the provincial government, demonstrate growing confidence in Madhesh as a strategic hub for agricultural development. 

Over 3 days, the event served as a dynamic platform to drive innovation, youth engagement, and investment in the agrifood sector.

Mr. Ken Shimizu, FAO Representative for Bhutan and Nepal, inaugurates the Madhesh Food Forum 2025, highlighting the province's strategic role in transforming Nepal's agrifood systems.

The opening session, chaired by Honourable Janardan Singh Kshetri, Minister for Land Management, Agriculture, and Cooperatives, was marked by strong provincial leadership and high-level participation, including senior government officials, youth entrepreneurs, private sector leaders, and development partners.

Chief Minister Honorable Satish Kumar Singh emphasized Madhesh's pioneering role in Nepal's agricultural revolution, stating: "Madhesh holds immense potential to lead the transformation of food systems. To realize this, we must place farmers, women, and youth at the heart of our efforts."

Honorable Satish Kumar Singh, Chief Minister of Madhesh Province, addresses the Madhesh Food Forum 2025, declaring the province's potential to lead Nepal's agrifood transformation with farmers, women, and youth at the forefront.

Honourable Sunil Kumar Yadav, Minister of Finance, expressed his commitment to shifting budgetary priorities toward agriculture. "We are committed to mobilizing fiscal resources toward high-impact areas such as irrigation, agri-enterprise development, and farmer support systems." 

The forum also received global attention. Mr. Daniel Gustafson, Special Representative of the FAO Director-General, described it as "the world’s first provincial-level food forum", praising Madhesh’s example for other regions and emphasizing the collaboration he witnessed between the government, international partners, and grassroots actors.
Building on this momentum, Mr. Ken Shimizu, FAO Representative for Bhutan and Nepal, highlighted the province’s agricultural heritage and strategic importance. He noted that FAO has developed a strong and growing presence in Madhesh province through technical cooperation, partnerships with the provincial government, and increasing engagement with the private sector. 

Ms. Mamata Mahato, Vice Chairperson of the National Association of Rural Municipalities in Nepal, emphasized the need for coordinated action at all levels to realize Madhesh's potential to feed the nation. 

To conclude the session, Honorable Janardan Singh Kshetri, Minister for Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives, underscored the shift from dialogue to delivery. He added that the time has come to transform how we practice agriculture, “Our fertile plains, strategic projects, and partnerships with the private sector are the foundation of this transformation.”

Investment announcement at Madhesh Food Forum 2025: Stakeholders reveal new funding commitments toward the event's historic USD 37.9 million pledge to revolutionize Nepal's agriculture sector.

The forum aligns with FAO’s “Four Betters” vision – Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment, and a Better Life – serving as a platform to address the interconnected challenges of food insecurity, climate vulnerability, and rural poverty, while also unlocking opportunities for investment and youth entrepreneurship.

A key outcome of the forum was the signing of collaboration agreements between MoLMAC and key stakeholders, including the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), the Mithila Makhana Institute, UB Holdings, and Farmland Argo Concern. These agreements lay a strong foundation for enhanced public-private collaboration and integrated value chain development in Madhesh’s agricultural sector. 

Looking ahead, the forum will continue to foster sustained investment, improved policy coordination, and strategic resource mobilization to advance the province’s agrifood systems.

The Madhesh Food Forum 2025 has set in motion a new era of investment-driven, climate-resilient agricultural development that promises to reshape Nepal's agrifood systems.