Food reserves in three remote districts of the Far west

Doti: In the fiscal year 2078/79 BS, only Kailali, Kanchanpur and Doti districts of Sudurpaschim Province had food reserves. Narendra Paneru, head of Krishi Gyan Kendra Doti, said that among the two lowland districts and seven hilly districts of Sudurpaschim Province, Doti is the only district that stores food in the hills. According to the information provided by Krishi Gyan Kendra Doti, the per capita food requirement per year is 181 kg in the lowlands, 191 kg in the middle hills and 211 kg in the high mountains. Accordingly, the food produced in the district was compared on the basis of population.

According to the state of food production and storage of the district, in Kanchanpur district, the annual required food grain of the district was 93 thousand six hundred and 93 metric tons. In Kailali district, the annual food requirement of the district was 160,552 metric tons. 176 thousand 349 metric tons are produced in the district and 17 thousand 797 metric tons of food grains are stored.

Even in Doti district, the annual food requirement of the district was 39 thousand two hundred and 85 metric tons in one year, while 43 thousand eight hundred 32 metric tons were produced in the district, 4 thousand five hundred and 47 metric tons of food grains are stored. In other hilly districts, the production is less than the requirement. According to statistics, in Baitadi district, the annual food requirement of the district was 46,680 metric tons. It is said that while 35,851 metric tons were produced in the district, 10,372 metric tons of food was lacking and had to be supplied from outside.

In Achham district, the annual food requirement of the district was 55 thousand eight hundred and 38 metric tons in a year. In the district, 50 thousand two hundred and thirteen metric tons were produced. In Dadeldhura district, the annual food requirement of the district was 26,629 metric tons. It is said that while 26,348 metric tons were produced in the district, there was a shortage of 281 metric tons of food and had to be supplied from outside.

In Bajura district, the annual food requirement of the district was 27 thousand nine hundred and 39 metric tons in a year. It seems that while 24 thousand three hundred and four metric tons are produced in the district, there is a shortage of three thousand six hundred and thirty five metric tons of food and it has to be supplied from outside.

In Bajhang district, the annual food requirement of the district was 38 thousand eight metric tons in one year. In Darchula district, the annual food requirement of the district was 37 thousand one hundred and 46 metric tons in a year, while 22 thousand one hundred and seventy metric tons were produced in the district, 4 thousand nine hundred and seventy six metric tons of food was lacking and had to be supplied from outside, according to the office.

Looking at the food and supply situation of Sudurpaschim province as a whole, 48 thousand four hundred and 41 metric tons of food is stored. During the recent lockdown and embargo caused by the global spread of Covid-19, most Nepalis have come to know the importance of agriculture, and the interest of young people in the agricultural profession has increased, and most of the youth are also doing business in cash crops, vegetable farming, fruit farming, Paneru said.

In recent times, the local government, state government and the federal government have also prioritized subsidy programs in addition to investing in agriculture.