The hunger indices in these parts of the country are close to or above 30, pointing to an extremely alarming situation. “The majority of the fifteen sub-regions of Nepal fall within the alarming category. Not a single sub-region in Nepal falls within the moderate or low hunger-categories. This underscores the seriousness of the food security situation in Nepal,” states the report.
"Mid-Western Mountain region of Nepal ranks one from the bottom of the 88 countries on the Global Hunger Index (GHI) list, just above the Congo. The Far-Western Mountain region also does not fare well in comparison, with a ranking similar to Ethiopia´s,” the report added.
The report indicated that undernourishment and underweight are the main contributing factors to the hunger index score. Underweight is a more important contributor in the Tarai than in the hills and mountains where undernourishment is more prevalent.
More affluent and economic active sub-regions have a lower NHI. “Due to dependency of the rural population on agriculture and the subsistence nature of the rural economy, insufficient food production does have a direct relationship with the hunger index score,” added the report. Crop failure quickly translates into hunger.
The report has recommended that a substantive and urgent effort be made to ensure food sufficiency, reduce childhood mortality and improve child nutrition in all sub-regions of the country. On the global hunger index score (GHI), Nepal ranks 57th out of 88 countries with its GHI standing at 20.6 -- an indicator of alarming hunger.
Related story
APF beats Mid-western to enter women's national cricket final
