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VOL. 03, NO. 09, Sept. 25 2009 (Ashwin 09 2066)
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Lack of food for thought
Food security in Nepal has been one of the major concerns lately.
According to World Food Programme (WFP), 45 out of 75 districts are not able to produce enough food to meet their population’s daily needs.
Nepal, which was self- sufficient in food grains until the 1980s, now imports food from its South Asian neighbors.
It spends nearly US $30 million to import rice and approximately US $ 750,000 to import wheat from India and Bangladesh respectively.
Poor agricultural productivity caused by droughts, natural disasters and poor farming practices and technologies among the farmers have been attributed to food ‘insecurity’.
The population of Nepal is increasing at a faster rate compared to the increase in agricultural output, which hints at more problems for the coming years.
The global economic crisis has worsened matters. It caused a worldwide price hike, especially affecting the poor and remote villagers. Nepal’s west, which happens to be the most impoverished part of the country, suffered too.
Since the extremely poor have no cash reserves, they will find it really difficult to cope up with the increased price rates. This means that in the coming years, the number of impoverished will gradually increase in Nepal.
Experts held extensive deliberations on the issue at a recent programme organized by SAWTEE.
“The food insecurity can be solved if agricultural growth is promoted and more budget is allocated to the agricultural sector,” said Dr. Bishwa Nath Tiwari, Professor, Department of Economics.
The hike in fuel price, a result of the global economic crisis, has affected farmers. The Nepal Oil Corporation, which is deep in debts, has not been able to supply fuel properly in the country.
Although presently, the matter has been solved, there is no doubt that shortage of fuel in the market could recur.
This has especially affected the farmers with water pumps and tractors, who rely on diesel for their machineries.
The fuel shortage has further reduced the number of vehicles which transport seeds and fertilizers, meaning an increase in their prices.
Says Tiwari, “The rising energy (fuel) prices, have been one of the major factors in decreasing productivity and hence increasing food insecurity.”
Thus, another pressing need of the day is to tackle the fuel crisis.
Until and unless the global fuel price is stabilized, the problem of food insecurity will persist; and there is little Nepal can do to stabilize the fuel price. Hence, it needs to find alternative ways to deal with the problem.
Abijit Sharma
