SAM KANG LI

Nepal's prime crops are wheat, corn, millet, rice and barley. Although these are not produced in Karnali and the far-western districts, buckwheat, potatoes, sweet potatoes, walnuts, milk products, meat and other vegetables are found in ample amounts. It is hard to believe that people here die of starvation.

Last year, Dolpa produced 2,000 metric tonnes of apples, 5,000 tonnes of potatoes, 500 tonnes of walnuts, 800 tonnes of milk products, 300 tonnes of meat, 900 tonnes of eggs and 800 tonnes of vegetables. These are as nutritious as any other food. The list of produce from other districts of Karnali is also similar. But we still hear of people dying of rice shortages in these districts.

There are rich European nations that have less wheat production than Nepal. While they have comfortably survived on potatoes, the people of Karnali are still chasing after rice.

Actually, it hasn't been long since this rice culture took hold. When the government and WFP started flying in rice to ease the food crisis in Karnali, it became the staple food there. Food experts claim that this is why Karnali suffers from food shortages for 9 out of 12 months a year. In addition, the state bears the expense of transporting rice to Karnali. This year alone, Rs 450 million has already been spent on transportation. President of Rural Reconstruction of Nepal, Arjun Karki, says, "The food policy of the state is responsible for making the people here depend on relief packages of rice instead of being self sufficient by cultivating what can be grown locally."

Last year, Nepal produced 2 million metric tonnes of potatoes. If we are to believe the official statistics, the deficit was 100,000 metric tonnes of food. Combating this crisis simply requires a change in food habits. The Ministry of Agriculture's spokesperson Hari Dahal says, "The food shortage will increase due to a change in weather and unsafe storage facilities. Imports will also decrease. So we have to shift back to the most suitable staple foods." For instance, Nepali potatoes are exported to India, then imported back at a higher price in the off season.

In the last five years, 146,000 metric tonnes of rice were imported from India. This year, Japan has offered food support of 95,000 metric tonnes and WFP has increased its annual food support to 70,000 metric tonnes, up from 50,000. WFP has launched a program called Food for Work, but as long as it translates to 'rice for work', experts say that Karnali will continue to have a food deficit. Self sufficiency has to be encouraged as a long-term solution.