Humla hit by food crisis

A food crisis has surfaced in a mountainous district, Humla, as the district failed to see the food supplies on time.

Various companies contracted for supplying rice to the district and the Food Management and Trading 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 the Karnali Province, was endorsed for the fiscal year 2080-81 BS (2022-24). However, it witnessed no food transportation to date.

Depot chief Krishna Adhikari said though it was agreed to transport 4,000 quintals of rice to Humla via road and the remaining 10,000 by cargo by different suppliers, it has been carried out so far.

He said the food depot here was not in a condition of supplying rice to the district people. He said he was worried about the situation.

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

Simrik Air was contracted to make 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 is almost nil.

Rice meant for Humla remains in Surkhet, Nepalgunj

The rice meant to be supplied to the Simkot branch of the FMTL remains in Surkhet and Nepalgunj as the Simrik Air which has the responsibility of transporting the food grain to Humla failed to do so.
Similarly, the LB Suppliers which have been awarded the contract to take the rice to Humla using road transport have 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 to date.