HUMLA, Dec 6: A food crisis has surfaced in the mountainous district of Humla as the district failed to see the food supplies on time. A company contracted for supplying rice to the district and the Food Management and Trade Company (FMTC) Limited have been blamed for the worrying food situation in the district that heavily relies on the rice subsidy from the government for food requirements. 

The FMTC branch in Simkot has run out of stock for the past two months. Supplies of a total of 14,000 quintals of rice to this district in Karnali Province, was endorsed for the fiscal year 2080-81 BS (2023-24).  However, it has witnessed no food transportation to date.  

Depot chief Krishna Adhikari said although it has been agreed to transport 4,000 quintals of rice to Humla via road and the remaining 10,000 quintals by cargo by different suppliers, the agreement is yet to be implemented. 

The branch requires 2,500 quintals of rice to distribute to the locals, market and employees at once. Similarly, an additional amount is needed to address the emergency food need, and to inmates and detainees.

Simrik Air was contracted for making the food supplies of 10,000 quintals: 6,000 from Surkhet (at Rs 137 per kg ) and 4,000 from Nepalgunj ( Rs 143 per kg), but the progress toward that end is almost nil. 

Rice meant for Humla remain in Surkhet, Nepalgunj 

The rice meant to be supplied to the Simkot branch of the FMTC remains in Surkhet and Nepalgunj as Simrik Air, which has the responsibility of transporting the food grain to Humla, has failed to do so. 

Similarly, the LB Suppliers which has been awarded the contract to transport the rice to Humla by means of road transport has not so far transported the rice to Humla.

The Changla Transport Service which also has the responsibility for transporting 1,000 quintals of rice has not done so till date.

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