All NFC depots in Humla have run out of stock. Local villagers who visit NFC depots for rice have been returning empty-handed. [break]
They are now surviving on other food grains like maize and millets.
According to Hari Prasad Joshi, chief of NFC, Humla locals have not received rice grains for over a week now. NFC has not been able to transport rice to Humla as bad weather had disrupted almost all flights to Karnali for the last few weeks. Even if flights resume smoothly, the NFC will not be able to supply rice to the far-flung villages of the district immediately.
NFC also transports rice to Humla from Hilsa, a village bordering Tibet, by using sheep and mules.
Since monsoon rains have damaged most of the roads connecting Hilsa with Simikot, the district headquarters of Humla, it is almost impossible to transport rice to the area.
As in other villages in the mid and far-western districts, rice is a major staple in Humla despite low production. Rice production in Humla barely suffices to feed the locals for seven months. They depend on NFC-supplied rice for rest of the year.
As NFC has not fixed the quota of rice for Humla for the new fiscal year, the supply of rice to Humla seems uncertain. “It all depends on how soon NFC fixes the new quota,” Joshi said. “Weather conditions also need to be favorable.”
NFC had supplied 10,000 quintals of rice to Humla last year as per its previously-fixed quota. As it did not suffice for the year, NFC had supplied an additional 3,000 quintals of rice.
Related story
Food depots in Humla run out of stock
