Dipayal, June 24 :

Bajura and Bajhang, the remote hilly districts of Far-west Nepal are floundering under a food crisis.

Residents of Bjaura’s district headquarters, Martadi, as well those in other VDCs of the district have been reduced to buying rice from Sanfebagar of neighbouring Accham because of the shortage of food grains in Bajura since last fortnight. Bajhang district folk too

are forced to come to Gopghat and Silgadhi markets of neighbouring Doti for food grains.

The Bangal region and Chhanna region of Bajhang are food shortage prone regions. Food shortage hits Bajura every year. Residents of most VDCs of Bajura depend on the Nepal Food Corporation (NFC) for food grain supply. However, the NFC godown in Bajura is empty since the past month.

Residents of Jugada, Manakot, Dahakot and Aantichaur of Bajura are compelled to trudge for two days to reach Sanfebagar to buy rice. Kale Kami of Jugada said, “I’ve come with my whole family in Sanfe haat bazaar to buy rice. The irony is that by the time we reach home all the rice we buy gets used up during the return journey.”

Bajura NFC chief Dilli Raj Lamsal said 250 quintals of rice, of 4500 quintals of

rice approved for this fiscal year, was brought to Sanfe of Accham.

“People come to the NFC office in Bajura almost daily to buy rice, but there is no stock at the godown. We have been compelled to lock up the godown, our offices and slink about like fugitives lest people confront us and start asking why, where, when and how,” Lamsal said.