The instructions were issued after the District Agricultural Development Office (DADO) and District Food Management Committees (DFMCs) cautioned that food scarcity would soon be hitting seven districts in the Far West and five districts in the Mid-West regions. The warning bells were rung in the wake of regions´ seeing a sharp shortfall in winter crop productions.
Holding meeting in this connection, Supplies Ministry officials on Thursday instructed the NFC and WFP officials to exchange information on distribution plans, food stocks and the efforts they are making to fight the crisis and to come up with more effective mechanisms.
The NFC and the WFP, a project of the United Nations, work to serve the same objectives. But since they operate with separate funding and modalities, they are not aware of each other´s plans and activities.
“Since the latest warnings say that food insecurity could worsen in several hilly districts this year, we think it is appropriate to build some sort of coordination mechanism between them,” said Purushottam Ojha, Supplies Secretary.
By establishing a close functional coordination between the two agencies, the government thinks it can fight the looming food crisis more effectively.
“It would mainly help us to know the areas where the WFP is laying special focus, and help us plan accordingly--help us decide where we should strengthen our focus and target supplies,” said Bijaya Dhoj Thapa of the NFC, who was present in the meeting.
During the meeting, WFP representatives informed the ministry officials that the WFP would be distributing 100,000 tons of rice this year, under the Food for Work Program. NFC officials too said that they were distributing 17,000 tons of rice in 30 food-deficit districts.
Based on the demands of the DFMCs, the NFC has already allocated quotas for all the 30 districts. “However, we will supply more quantities the 12 districts of the Far and Mid-Western regions, including five districts in Karnali zone,” said Thapa.
The NFC and the WFP are holding talks to further their coordination in the meeting to be held on Friday.
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