Villagers living in remote Durgathali and Chhabis Pathibhera Rural Municipali-ties in Bajhang district have lauded Nepal Food Corporation (NFC) for distributing subsidized rice from a newly opened depot near their villages.

Earlier, the villagers walked long distances to purchase rice and other foodstuffs from the district headquarters.

After the NFC opened the depot at Bisauna bazaar, people from Daula, Sainapasela, Budhakhori, Lekgaun, Ghatte, Naura, Majhkheri and Khori villages have been spared the ordeal of walking long distances.

“Earlier we bought Mota rice at Rs 60 per kilo. Now, we have pay Rs 37 per kilo for the same rice,” said Urmila Daulyal, a resident of Sainapasela. “We thank the authorities for setting up the food depot near our villages,” she added.

Bajhang NFC Chief Ishwori Prasad Joshi said the district NFC office has taken initiative to add quota of subsidized rice in Durgathali and Chhabis areas as hailstones this year massively destroyed winter crops.

“People living in these areas may face food shortage,” said Joshi.  In mid-April, the hailstones and rain destroyed the winter crops in Bajhang.

According to District Agricultural Development Office data, food that farmers of Durgathali and Chhabis Pathibhera produce would only last only three months.

“The villagers have to purchase rice from the market for the remaining months of the year,” a DADO official said.