This Food Security Bulletin covers the period July-September and is focused on the Mid and Far Western Hill and Mountain (MFWHM) region (typically the most food insecure region of the country). July – August is an agricultural lean period in Nepal and typically a season of increased food insecurity.
The food security situation in the Mid and Far Western Hill and Mountain (M&FWHM) districts remains of major concern: winter crop production of wheat and barley were severely affected by localized natural disasters during the pre-harvesting period in late March-April. Production losses of above 50 percent were reported in the following districts: Bajura, Achham, Humla, Mugu, and Kalikot (drought); Rukum (heavy snowfall) and Dailekh (hailstorm).
As expected, between January and March the food security situation deteriorated in parts of the Mid- and Far-Western Hill and Mountain districts. This is primarily attributed to the poor summer crop production in November/December 2009. In highly and severely food insecure areas, households have depleted their food stocks and basic food prices have increased by 20 percent or more compared to the same time last year.