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Far-West hungers for food
DHANGADI, JUN 02 -
Hill districts of Far Western Nepal are at a high risk of food shortage due to low crop production this year.
Statistics from the Regional Agriculture Directorate suggest that seven hill districts of the Far West suffered a 6.33 percent drop in food production this year compared to the previous year.
“That is a decrease by 45,000 metric tonnes,” said Jit Bahadur Chand of the directorate.
Achham district alone had a production shortfall of nearly 21,000 metric tonnes. Thirty-two VDCs of Achham are already reeling under severe food crisis.
Also, 23 VDCs in Baitadi district are reeling under food scarcity. Puchaudi region of the district is the worst hit. Bajhang requires an annual crop yield of over 37,000 metric tonnes to feed the district. Production this year fetched a little over 30,000 metric tonnes, pushing thousands of Bajhang residents to the edge of a food crisis. The problem of food shortage has already been reported in 27 VDCs in the northern region of the district.
Scarcity of food has surfaced in other districts like Darchula, Bajura, Dadeldhura and Doti, said Chand. “Over 70 VDCs in four districts are facing food problem.”
Crisis in Mugu, Humla villages
SURKHET: Many villages in remote Mugu and Humla are suffering from food shortage as the state-run food agent, Nepal Food Corporation (NFC), has not provided additional provisions.
Prith Bahadur Shahi, secretary of Mugu’s Hyanglu VDC, said owing to extended dry spell, 14 VDCs in Sorukot and Srikot regions of the district had low food production this year, triggering the crisis.
Worse, a famine situation has broke out at Vehe, Narthapu and Jima VDCs after heavy downpour a few days earlier destroyed standing crops there.
VDCs in Srinagar and Sarkegad regions of Humla district are also suffering from food scarcity.
Purna Prasad Dahal of NFC’s regional office in Surkhet said the centre has not supplied additional food to the famine-hit areas.
Posted on: 2010-06-03 07:36
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