Quarterly report paints bleak picture of food security

The price of staple food grains has remained relatively stable over the first quarter of this year because of the summer harvest, said a monthly report.

However, coarse rice prices are up by eight per cent. National wheat prices have risen by 13 per cent. And, broken lentil price is up by 18 per cent compared with the same period last year, said a report published by the World Food Programme (WFP) in coordination with government agencies and Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI).

The poor summer crop production in 2009-2010 and winter snow fall negatively affected the food supply in markets, especially in remote districts. Across the markets monitored, 45 per cent of mountain markets and 10 per cent of hill markets reported insufficient supply of key commodities. Similarly, more than half of all monitored markets have reported disruptions and temporary closures due to politically motivated bandhs (strikes and protests).

There was transportation union led bandhs that forced market closures in at least 18 districts pushing the food prices high.

"In March, Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) also hiked fuel prices twice due to increase in international oil prices. "The traders attributed the price hike to rising transportation costs," the report said.

In the first quarter of this year, the food security situation deteriorated in parts of the Mid- and Far-Western Hill and Mountain districts due to the poor summer crop production in November-December last year.

In highly and severely food insecure areas, households have depleted their food stocks and basic food prices have increased by 20 per cent or more compared to the same time last year.

"Four VDCs in Bajura were classified as severely food insecure," according to the report. "The District Food Security Networks in the Mid- and the Far-Western Development Regions have identified altogether 179 VDCs in 11 districts that are highly or severely food insecure."

Similarly, the estimated number of food insecure people has increased by 1.2 per cent to 23.6 per cent of the population, or an estimated 0.6 million people.

In Bajura (85 per cent) and Humla(87 per cent) of the district population are at a critical level of food insecurity. Other districts facing a high level of food insecurity include Mugu, Kalikot, Jumla, Dailekh, Achham, Doti, Bajhang, Darchula and Baitadi, according to the report.