Gangtok:19th March: The flagship biennial event of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Asia and the Pacific Food Systems Forum 2026, was held from 16–19 March 2026 in Manila, Philippines. Centered on the theme “Feeding the Future, Sustaining the Planet,” the forum addressed critical challenges facing agri-food systems, including escalating climate risks, water stress, and biodiversity loss.
The event brought together government leaders, global experts, and development partners, including the Prime Minister of Bhutan, ADB President Masato Kanda and ministers from various countries. The sessions on Natural Capital Dialogues featured prominent global authorities such as Economics Nobel Laureate, Michael Kremer.
Sikkim’s innovative natural capital financing initiatives—Sikkim Payment for Ecosystem Services Rules and Sikkim Shishu Samriddhi Yojana under the Mero Rukh Mero Santati programme—drew significant global attention. Notably, Sikkim is the only state in India where an online Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) of plantations by private individuals ( parents) exists which leads them to getting their children an interest bearing Direct Benefit Transfer of Rs. 10800.00 in the form of Sikkim Shishu Samriddhi Yojana. Also, Sikkim is the only state in India with a fully operational Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) framework, widely recognized by ADB as the “Sikkim Model” of PES.
‘It was a moment of pride for Sikkim when ADB officials themselves showcased these pioneering policies of Government of Sikkim to a global audience in the presence of representative from the State, ‘ according to Spokesperson Forest Deptt. today.
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