The decline in summer production has resulted to high food insecurity amongst the vulnerable population, a report jointly prepared by Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives and UN World Food Program (WFP) states. [break]
The already higher food prices are anticipated to increase further during 2010, WFP said in a press statement on Saturday.
In February 2010, the year-on-year food price inflation was 18.1 percent according to Nepal Rastra Bank. Most of the farmers in mid and far-west hills do not have proper irrigation facility and they have to depend on rainfall.
“The reduction in summer production is due to the starting of monsoon lately and the erratic distribution of rain in 2009/2010,” WFP said.
Paddy production was reduced to 4.02 million metric tons and maize was reduced to 1.86 million tons, which is 11 percent and 4 percent less in comparison to last year´s production, the statement added.
Related story
Experiences of summer splash
