Thirty-two of the 75 districts do not grow enough food to feed their population even as nationwide grain production recorded a surplus this fiscal year, said the Ministry of Agricultural Development. These districts face a combined 974, 662 tonnes food deficit.

The ministry said the country is in surplus of 155,558 tonnes food this year calculated on the basis of Nepal’s population of 28.1 million. The country had recorded 789,890 tonnes surplus food last fiscal year.

Of 14 districts that were affected by the earthquake, 10 districts (excluding Okhaldhunga, Ramechhap, Sindhuli and Nuwakot) have been given the food-deficit status. The ministry estimates these districts face a combined 553,969 tonnes food deficit, up from 294,809 tonnes last fiscal year. The earthquake destroyed 135,000 tonnes of food this year.

In 2009-10, there were 43 food deficit districts, most of them in the hills and mountains. The number dropped to 27 in 2011-12, when the country recorded bumper cereal harvest.  

The ministry said food requirement was computed on the basis of 181kg per person per year in the mountain region, 201kg per person in the hills and 191kg per person in the Tarai.

Rice, maize, wheat, buckwheat, millet and barley are the six crops counted as food grain. When calculating the supply available, food grains shipped between districts are not taken into account.

The ministry said 9.26 million tonnes of food has been produced this fiscal year. Of the total output, calculated on the basis of Nepal’s population of 28.1 million, food used for human consumption amounted to 5.34 million tonnes, leaving a surplus of 155,558 tonnes food this year.

The rest was used as livestock feed and seeds, and some were damaged during the post-harvest season.