Worsening Situation
A joint report by WFP and FAO shows that the situation of food insecurity in Nepal has worsened
By A CORRESPONDENT
Thanks to a series of natural disasters in 2006 and 2007, crop production in Nepal have been severely impacted, placing a significant number of people at risk of food insecurity, according to the joint report released this week by the UN World Food Program (WFP) and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
According to the report, a combination of prolonged drought, hailstorms, and flooding in areas traditionally most agriculturally productive have resulted in an estimated 225,000-metric-ton food grain shortage for 2006/2007, compared to a food deficit of only 23,000 tons last year. An estimated 42 out of 75 districts are reported to be food deficient. The report is based upon the findings of a joint FAO/WFP crop and food supply assessment mission conducted in March and April of 2007.
"The results of the report largely confirm WFP's earlier estimates that many people, particularly those living in remote, chronically food insecure areas of Mid- and Far-Western Nepal are suffering the impact of consecutive years of drought and the lingering impacts of the 11-year insurgency," said Richard Ragan, WFP Representative in Nepal, in a statement released by WFP-Nepal office.
"This is particularly troubling during this highly sensitive post-conflict period and WFP will immediately address these concerns by targeting 1.2 million people through a new US$49 million Peace and Recovery Programme and urge donors to support our effort," Ragan added.
Nepal is a chronically food insecure, food deficit country, prone to natural disasters that can have serious consequences to agricultural production at both the national and local level. The report expresses serious concern over the estimated national undernourishment rate of 42 percent, with undernourishment rates in hill and mountain areas as high as 50 percent. Stunting rates in children are estimated to be as high as 60 percent in the Mid- and Far-Western Regions, and acute malnutrition rates of children at nearly 18 percent in the Terai.
"This is a really critical time," said Henri Josserand, Chief of the FAO Global Information and Early Warning System. "The process of national reconciliation can only make headway if the whole country shares in improved access to food and markets, lower rates of malnutrition, and a determined risk management strategy for food security."
The report concludes that "the confluence of high population growth, extremely limited scope of expansion of cultivated areas, under-developed irrigation infrastructures, continued high level of dependence on agriculture for livelihood and almost stagnant productivity of crops has resulted in acute risk of nation-wide food insecurity."
The UN report warns that continued high levels of food insecurity could destabilize the peace process, and recommends that immediate efforts be put in place to improve household food security and livelihoods.
The report also makes a number of recommendations to address Nepal's food insecurity. They include a series of short and longer-term projects aimed at improving the availability of irrigation, construction of critical infrastructure, support and strengthening of government agricultural monitoring systems, and immediate food aid for drought and conflict-affected communities.
AIR CARGO TRANSIT POTENTIALS
At a time when there have been discussions about the prospects of Nepal turning into transit bridge between India and China, Indian Ambassador to Nepal Shiv Shankar Mukherjee has said that Nepal could be developed as a transit point for air cargo between India and the rest of the world.
The Himalayan Times on July 30 reported that Mukherjee referring Nepal's geographical location between the world's two fastest growing economies; India and China, said that Nepal has an opportunity to serve as a transit point for air cargo that could bring considerable benefits to the country.
"We are prepared to examine necessary bilateral arrangements that would make it possible for Nepal to exploit such opportunity, especially after forthcoming revision of air services agreement between the two countries," he said addressing a program to mark to the 13th Cargo Day organized by Nepal Freight Forwarders' Association (NEFFA), on Sunday.
Mukherjee further added — that India would substantially liberalize the bilateral air services arrangements — hinting for modifying the bilateral trade treaty to add international airports to the designated routes for bilateral trade. External trade is a key to Nepal's economy, he said adding that expansion of transport network and elimination of non-tariff barriers are required to boost the trade. Contemplating that about two-thirds of Nepal's foreign trade is with India and over 90 percent of Nepal's third country trade transits through India, Mukherjee stressed on the need of improving infrastructure as well as expanding transport network. As the largest trade partner, he reiterated that India has a vital stake and interest in Nepal's prosperity.
His remarks have come in the wake of complaints by NEFFA over problems related to land transportation due to rise in political disturbances in the terai region. Currently it takes more than 45 days to reach Nepali exports to Europe from Kathmandu, compared to the earlier 30 days, states NEFFA.
