ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳

Guided by the concept of ¡°gross national happiness¡±, the small Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan has achieved rapid economic growth. It transitioned into a lower middle-income country at the end of 2023, with investments in health and education reducing poverty from 23 to 12 percent in just a decade. 

However, the impact of climate change is expected to lead to more frequent and intense disasters, threatening to reverse Bhutan¡¯s progress. Most people depend on the agricultural sector to survive, so protecting the country¡¯s food systems is an important step towards reaching zero hunger.

Eighty-six percent of Bhutanese do not consume sufficient vegetables and fruits. More than a quarter of households cannot afford a diet that meets their nutrient needs. 

Although agriculture is one of the economic mainstays of Bhutan, less than 3 percent of its land is arable. The mountainous terrain, limited commercial farming and marketing, and post-harvest management constraints mean that Bhutan imports about half its food from neighbouring countries.

ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳supports Bhutan with technical assistance in nutrition, climate-resilient food systems, and emergency preparedness and response. ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳handed over the school meals programme to the Government in 2019.