KATHMANDU: Nepal doesn’t appear to be in a position to tide over the severe food insecurity, which has hit the country hard.

A United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) report says 3.5 million people in Nepal are food insecure and the situation could worsen.

“The country has entered a lean food season. Drought experienced in 2008/09, along with delayed monsoon and low yield of summer crops, has resulted in about 400,000 metric tonnes of cereal deficit,” states the report. “Food inflation has remained above 18 percent.”

Several districts will be food insecure in the months ahead. Lack of irrigation facilities in Siraha, Saptari and Sunsari in eastern Tarai and low rainfall and high sand deposits have adversely impacted food security in 53 VDCs.

Reduced winter rains have also affected Bhojpur and Sankhuwasabha in the eastern hilly region causing food

insecurity.

“WFP continues to monitor market trends and changes in food prices and availability across the country.

Food security and its relationship with increase in food prices are of serious concern and require vigilant monitoring by the government and international community,” states the report.

The report predicts that insufficient rainfall coupled with presently experienced strong winds could decrease wheat and lentil production in the Tarai.

Only Jhapa, Morang and Dhanusha are considered Food secure districts in the Tarai.

Low wheat and barley harvest resulting from erratic and insufficient winter rainfall has increased the threat of food

crisis.

The report notes that food insecurity is likely to become critical from June onwards as the region goes through the seasonal lean period.

With low paddy production in Jumla, Mugu, Humla and Dailekh, price of rice is expected to rise in these districts.

Nepal Food Corporation (NFC) has 10,500 metric tonnes of rice, mustard oil and pulses in stock in its eastern region godowns in Biratnagar. It also has a stock of rice in Itahari, Sunsari and 2,400 metric tonnes of rice in Surkhet. Though NFC refuted media reports that it had run out of stock four months ago, things certainly look bleak.