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YK Puddle
The Bhutan Chapter of the World Food Forum (BWFFC) was officially launched yesterday on International Youth Day, marking the country as the 14th global chapter.
The chapter, which was launched in May at the Bhutan Trade and Investment Forum, is an independent, youth-led network of young people from across the country working to transform the country’s agri-food sector. The chapter has more than 100 youth members.
The launch was part of a two-day national youth seminar coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
The workshop, which concluded today, was attended by more than 200 youth participants from 18 Dzongkhags, officials from various ministries, UN agencies and local entrepreneurs.
The event highlighted the potential of youth to drive policy development, skills development, innovation and entrepreneurship in the agri-food sector.
The workshop also featured the Bhutanese version of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) action card game “X(Cross)”, developed by Kanazawa Institute of Technology in Japan in collaboration with FAO Bhutan and BWFFC. The online game simulates the trade-offs in the agri-food sector to achieve the SDGs.
The main discussions revolved around four core themes: Youth Action, Innovation Labs, Education and Culture. Key topics covered in the panel discussions included transforming agri-food systems through youth entrepreneurship, digital solutions in social innovation and government support for young entrepreneurs.
A session exploring the relationship between mindfulness, mental resilience and youth-led transformation of agri-food systems will take place today.
Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Younten Phuntsho said the 13th Five-Year Plan aims to generate Ngultrum 50 billion by 2029 and prioritizes youth in agribusiness. “Youth, as agents of positive change, must actively participate in creative agri-food businesses and take advantage of much-needed government assistance.”
Ken Shimizu, FAO Representative in Bhutan and Nepal, said the establishment of a youth-led Bhutan chapter could leverage opportunities and external funding to boost the country’s agri-food sector.
FAO plans to invest $83 million in Bhutan’s agri-food sector between 2024 and 2028. Currently, FAO Bhutan has received about $16 million in funding, with another $42 million in the pipeline.
Ken Shimizu said: “In addition, about $25 million is currently in soft commitment status.”
Ngawang Gyeltshen, one of the leaders of the Bhutan Chapter, said that the WFF Bhutan Chapter is a platform that acts as a global think tank to promote youth-led innovation, science and technology solutions. “The Chapter is a platform that can harness the potential of youth to drive innovation and sustainable practices in the agri-food sector and chart a path for existing challenges.”
The Ministry of Agriculture, FAO Bhutan, World Food Programme, Ministry of Education and Skill Development and Ministry of Health are the key agencies involved in this initiative.
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