WFP portrays bleak picture of food security

The World Food Programme (WFP) has projected a gloomy outlook of the winter crop production this time owing to lack of sufficient rainfall.

The winter harvest this time is expected to be poor. The outlook for the winter crop production is worrisome making the people more vulnerable to food insecurity, stated a rapid survey by the WFP.

Other factors, according to the survey, affecting food security include remoteness, high food prices and limited income opportunities, posing a high risk of increased food insecurity beginning in April. Food insecurity will become particularly critical from June onwards as Nepal moves into its traditional lean season.

The survey pointed out that more than 70 percent of a total 247 surveyed farmers in 20 districts expected a poor to very poor winter crop production due to lack of rainfall.

Moreover, due to almost complete absence of rainfall during the winter season, the outlook for the wheat and barley harvest is bleak, particularly in the rain-fed areas of the Far-west and Mid-west and in several districts of the central hills, the report further enumerated.

During summer, paddy, maize, and millet are the main cereal crops cultivated in the country. Paddy is grown predominantly in the Terai while maize and millet are cultivated mostly in the hill and mountainous areas. Paddy is the most important cereal crop in Nepal.

However, the state of summer crop production was relatively in good shape in the majority of the central and eastern districts. “This year’s national production was above last year’s. The preliminary estimate of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MoAC) suggests that the production of paddy, maize, and millet increased by 5.22 percent, 2.77 percent, and 0.54 percent respectively, in comparison to last year,” stated the report. nepalnews.com Mar 03 09