Support to earthquake-affected farmers continues, says FAO

Kathmandu, October 25

Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations today said it has continued to support the government-led efforts to address food security and livelihood needs in the six districts most affected by the earthquakes.

The districts include Sindhupalchowk, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Rasuwa, Dolakha. Six months after the earthquakes, vulnerable farmers in the worst-affected districts still need agricultural inputs to continue the rehabilitation and reconstruction process and revive the agricultural sector. FAO has already completed an emergency distribution of 42,000 5kg bags of rice seed in advance of the monsoon planting season, a press release issued by the FAO said today.

It has also distributed 30,000 durable grain and seed storage bags, with 40,000 more to follow, and nearly 20,000 25kg bags of high-nutrition animal feed. The vegetable seed packet distribution recently completed reached 50,000 households. “Since the vast majority of rural families are dependent on agriculture for livelihoods, it is FAO’s priority to provide the farmers with the necessary support to revive their crop and livestock production,” said Somsak Pipoppinyo, FAO representative in Nepal. Somsak extended gratitude to the donors, the government and non-governmental agencies and the civil society for their generous support to the affected farmers.

In the next few months, FAO will continue distributing farming inputs, grain and seed storage bags and mineral blocks for surviving livestock. Through 240 women’s group, FAO will also distribute plastic sheets for the construction of tunnels to support winter vegetable production to 6000 households. Twelve community-managed irrigation schemes have been identified and assessed for the provision of support to repair damaged reservoirs and channels. Food production is still under significant pressure due to the on-going border blockade in southern part of the country. that hinders the import.