Food and Nutrition Security Policy of the Kingdom of Bhutan, 2014.

The Food and Nutrition Security Policy of Bhutan (FNS) will be guided by the following principles: Secure access to sufficient food, adequate nutrition and attaining an active and healthy life is a basic human right: Food and nutrition security programmes must be sensitive to culture and traditional practices; Sustainable use of natural resources and entitlements is crucial for food and nutrition security; Ability to access safe and adequate food as well as its proper utilization is the basis for a healthy population and for Gross National Happiness; Food and nutrition security programmes must be gender sensitive and socially inclusive of the interest of poor and vulnerable communities and individuals; Food and nutrition security has multi-sectoral and inter-generational ramifications; Food and nutrition security initiatives have to be based on continuous research programmes enabling strengthened linkage between food production and nutrition, efficient resources management and increased productivity FNS Vision is: All people living in Bhutan at all times have physical, economic and social access to safe and adequate nutritious food for a healthy and active life contributing to realization of Gross National Happiness.
The overarching policy goals and objectives are as presented below: 1. Ensure availability of safe and adequate varieties of food to meet food requirements of the population at all times through: ensuring sustainable domestic food production and productivity; strengthening sustainable management of natural resources for food production; maintaining safe and adequate food reserves at strategic locations; facilitating safe food imports and improve access to international food distribution facilities. 2. Promote appropriate consumption practices and enable optimum utilization of food by all through: promoting nutrition education and awareness for healthy food habits and dietary diversification; promoting appropriate maternal, infant and Young child feeding practices.
3. Enhance physical, economic and social access to safe, affordable and adequate food through: increasing efficiency in safe food marketing, trade and distribution systems; Diversifying sustainable rural and urban based livelihood options; improving delivery of social support to poor and socio-economically vulnerable communities and individuals.
4. Sustain conducive and stable environment for availability, accessibility and utilization of food through: developing and implementing adaptation and mitigation measures for longer term climate and environmental changes; improving disaster preparedness capacity to respond to disasters; ensuring interventions in markets and price stability of food commodities.