Back to news
22 Apr 2024 | Economies

Regional push to transform agricultural yield and increase food security through renewables launches

1 min Read

70% Complete
Empowering Agriculture with Renewable Energy for Sustainable Irrigation and Inclusive Policies on April 22, 2024 at ICIMOD. Photo: Jitendra Raj Bajracharya/ICIMOD.

KATHMANDU, Nepal (April 23, 2024) – Harnessing renewable energy could revolutionize food security in the mountains of the Hindu Kush Himalayas, according to a conference co-hosted by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), the Alternative Energy Promotion Center (AEPC) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI).

Rising temperatures are compounding the risks to food security in the mountains of the Hindu Kush Himalayas. Traditional irrigation methods and limited access to energy are hindering agricultural productivity in these high-altitude regions.

Clean energy – hydro, solar, biomass and wind – is abundant in the Hindu Kush Himalaya. With rising temperatures compounding the risks to food security  experts argue that it’s crucial agriculture, which provides one fifth of the region’s gross domestic product,  embrace renewables’ potential to transform yields, food security, and to transition away from polluting energy sources.

The upcoming conference, titled “Advancing Productive Uses of Renewable Energy in Agriculture in the Hindu Kush Himalaya,” will explore the potential of renewable energy sources to transform mountain farming. Scheduled for April 23rd, the event will bring together stakeholders to discuss strategies for scaling up these solutions for mountain communities in the HKH.

Key Issues on the Agenda:

 

Statement from experts:

“Renewable energy solutions are key to tackling challenges and enhancing the resilience of mountain agriculture. We have the potential demand of 1300 megawatts of renewal energy for irrigation,”
stated Nawa Raj Dhakal, Executive Director of AEPC, Nepal.

 

“It’s time to harness clean energy to secure food security and sovereignty,”
emphasized Izabella Koziell, Deputy Director General of ICIMOD.

 

The conference is expected to pave the way for wider adoption of renewable energy solutions in mountain agriculture, ultimately contributing to a more secure food supply and a sustainable future for these vulnerable communities.


For More Information visit the conference website: https://www.icimod.org/renewable-energy-agriculture/


For media inquiries, please contact:

Neraz Tuladhar (Raz), Media Officer
Email: media@icimod.org

Stay current

Stay up to date on what’s happening around the HKH with our most recent publications and find out how you can help by subscribing to our mailing list.

Sign Up
9 Dec 2019 Press releases
Scientists rank world’s most important, most threatened mountain water towers

Research provides new insight on mountain glacier–derived water resource systems, impacting up to 1.9 billion people globally December 9, 2019 — ...

16 Jul 2024 Press releases
WOMEN ON ICE: ICIMOD seeks recruits to help shatter the ‘Ice-Ceiling’ in cryosphere science

Kathmandu, Nepal – 17 July 2024  ICIMOD this winter launches Women on Ice, a flagship new initiative to build the ...

25 Apr 2016 Press releases
Young minds collaborate to solve global challenges

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="570"] Winners of the International Space Apps Challenge - Kathmandu ...

31 Oct 2015 Press releases
New report outlines framework for sustainable development in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Report on "A Strategic Framework for Sustainable Development in ...

9 May 2018 Press releases
ICIMOD and NMB Bank combine efforts to benefit mountain communities in Nepal

  Speaking on the occasion, David Molden, Director General of ICIMOD, said, “ICIMOD is increasingly stepping up to work closely with ...

19 Jun 2016 Press releases
Knowledge forum calls for strengthened regional collaboration to support inclusive climate resilience in the Himalayan and downstream region

[caption id="attachment_7229" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Panelists at the two-day regional 'Knowledge Forum on Climate ...

6 Dec 2017 Press releases
MOPE, EU, and ICIMOD host international conference on resilient HKH

After four days of invigorating discussion on resilience issues in the Hindu Kush Himalaya, Nepal’s Ministry of Population and the ...

13 Nov 2024 Press releases
THE LEADERS OF HKH COUNTRIES PLEDGE TO STRENGTHEN TIES TO TACKLE CLIMATE CRISIS IN MOUNTAINS

Baku, 13 November 2024  – On the day that scientists warn of ‘extreme’ and mounting economic costs from snow and ice ...