Rising food prices: Impact on food security in Nepal

Global food prices have been skyrocketing over the last one year. As food producers and exporters, including India, China and Vietnam, are curbing exports to meet their internal requirements, protect their stocks and check inflation, the food crisis might further worsen. Nepalese consumers are also bearing the pinch of food price inflation. As a net food importer, Nepal may face a severe crisis with a negative impact on food security if the government does not look into the matter immediately. Realizing the need to discuss the soaring food prices in the international market and devise strategies to combat their impact on the food security situation in Nepal, ActionAid Nepal and SAWTEE jointly organized a bi-monthly forum titled 'Rising Food Prices: Impact on Food Security' on 30 April 2008 in Kathmandu.  

Presenting a paper on 'Rising Food Prices: Food Security in Nepal', Mr Navin Dahal, Executive Director, SAWTEE, said that the Indian government's ban on exports of rice and wheat could create food shortages in Nepal. Pointing out that rising prices in the domestic market are also a result of black marketing, hoarding and undue profit, he said that the government should ensure an effective implementation of legal instruments like Consumer Protection Act, and Black Marketing and Certain Other Offenses (Prevention and Control) Act.

Mr Dinamani Pokhrel, senior theme leader at ActionAid Nepal, said that the increase in food prices would have severe adverse effects on the food security situation in a poor country like Nepal. Therefore, he said, there is a need to increase productivity in the agricultural sector.

Mr Bishwanath Tiwari, National Programme Manager, UNDP, and a discussant at the programme, said that food production in Nepal is less than the demand of the rising population and, to make matters worse, people are fast abandoning agriculture for employment in other sectors. Therefore, he added, there is a need to attract people into agriculture and also chalk out strategies to retain the population that has taken up agriculture as a profession.       
 
Likewise, another discussant, Mr Rishi Niraula, lawyer and consumer activist, said that it is the responsibility of the government to curb food prices, devise strategies to ensure food security of its population and see that there is enough food supply within the country.   

The programme, chaired by Assistant Professor at Patan Multiple Campus Dr Keshav Khadka, was attended by more than 50 participants, including government official, researchers, consumer activists and media persons.