A.D.:
Nepal Samvat: 1145 GULATHWA CHATURDASHI - 14
A.D.:
Nepal Samvat: 1145 GULATHWA CHATURDASHI - 14
Under Secretary General of the United Nations and the High Representative for OHRLLs Ms. Rabab Fatima,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
At the outset, allow me to express my sincere appreciation to the organizers for convening this vital High-Level Special Event to deliberate on one of the flagship initiatives of the Awaza Programme of Action—the establishment of Regional Agricultural Research Hubs (RARHs) to drive agricultural transformation in Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs).
This dialogue could not have come at a more critical juncture.
The global consensus demonstrated through the adoption of the Awaza Programme of Action last December underscores the urgent need to support the 32 LLDCs—spanning four continents and representing over 570 million people—in addressing their persistent and compounded development challenges.
Excellencies,
The structural disadvantages of landlockedness are well known and deeply entrenched.
The absence of maritime access, exorbitant transit and transport costs, and limited connectivity to regional and global markets remain significant impediments to inclusive and sustainable growth.
These challenges are further intensified by rising geopolitical tensions, worsening climate impacts, food insecurity, recurring pandemics, inflationary pressures, and unsustainable debt burdens—leaving LLDCs acutely vulnerable to global disruptions.
Among the most severely affected sectors is agriculture—the very lifeline of our economies and societies.
In LLDCs, agriculture contributes, on average, 17% to GDP and engages around 55% of the labor force. Clearly, poverty is heavily concentrated in this sector.
Yet, productivity levels remain alarmingly low.
A multitude of constraints—ranging from unsustainable farming practices, disjointed supply chains, poor infrastructure and minimal technological application, to inadequate investment in R&D and limited access to finance and insurance—continue to suppress the sector's transformative potential.
The food crisis facing LLDCs today is not just a development concern—it is a moral and humanitarian emergency.
Hunger, undernourishment, and food price volatility are worsening.
As rightly identified in the Awaza Programme of Action, external shocks have exposed the fragility of food systems in LLDCs.
Agricultural underperformance is directly correlated with entrenched poverty and rising malnutrition.
Against this backdrop, the establishment of Regional Agricultural Research Hubs is not merely timely—it is visionary and catalytic.
These Hubs are envisaged as centers of excellence, designed to:
Their mandates are fully aligned with the objectives of the APoA—to enhance productivity, foster sustainable food systems, and integrate agriculture into higher value-added activities.
They will also make substantial contributions to SDG-2 and intersect with multiple other SDGs and targets.
These Hubs hold the potential to become powerful engines for:
By delivering region-specific solutions and facilitating knowledge and technology transfers, they can help close the persistent capacity and innovation gaps that continue to challenge agricultural development in LLDCs.
These are not merely research centers.
They are agents of transformation, beacons of a new green revolution, and vehicles of empowerment—especially for smallholder farmers, women, and youth.
They will equip them with the tools and skills to produce more efficiently and to connect meaningfully with markets—gaining fair value for their labor and products.
The APoA makes it clear: growth in agriculture is two to four times more effective in reducing poverty than growth in other sectors.
Let me put this on record, Nepal is ready to host one Regional Agricultural Research Hub to materialize this deliverable at the earliest possible time.
Establishment of Regional hubs will resonate deeply with the theme of this Third LLDC Conference: “Driving Progress through Partnerships.”
Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,
Investing in agricultural R&D is not only economically sound—it is strategically essential.
The APoA sets ambitious but achievable goals: doubling productivity, boosting resilience, and adopting climate-smart and circular agricultural models.
It also emphasizes the transformative role of digital innovation, robust data systems, and skilled human capital in reshaping agricultural futures in LLDCs.
Yet, the success of this bold vision will hinge on strong and sustained partnerships—drawing in development partners, the UN system, multilateral development banks, and mechanisms of North-South and South-South cooperation.
LLDCs cannot overcome these challenges in isolation.
We need collective commitment.
I therefore urge our development partners to contribute proactively—both in terms of financing and technical expertise—to ensure the timely establishment of these Hubs.
Let today’s gathering mark a defining shift—from promises to implementation, and from shared ambition to shared achievement.
The Regional Agricultural Research Hubs are not abstract ideals—they are practical instruments of transformation, ready to bring innovation, resilience, and hope to those who need them most.
This is our moment—to uplift millions of farmers across LLDCs, not just with encouraging rhetoric, but with real tools, viable skills, and targeted investments.
In conclusion, I am confident that today’s discussions will contribute to building enduring partnerships for common prosperity.
The Regional Agricultural Research Hubs are a cornerstone of the Awaza Programme of Action—and they embody its spirit across all five priority areas, delivering long-term, positive changes for generations to come.
Thank you.
