Food shortage hits Khotang

BY DAMBAR SINGH RAI

KHOTANG, Aug 17 - The frequent transportation strikes which halted supply of essential commodities have brought about an acute shortage of food in this eastern hilly district. The problem is also attributed to various diseases that plagued on maize, wheat, potato and other crops in ...

According to locals, they are now compelled to pay exorbitant prices for foodstuffs in the local marketplaces. "The price of local rice has reached Rs 80 per kg and prices of other commodities are beyond purchasing capacity of ordinary people," said one.

The situation is further depressing as Nepal Food Corporation (NFC) branch in the district has only 250 quintals of rice as stock in its godown. "Of the total annual quota of 3,700 quintals rice, we have just 250 quintals for emergency use in natural disasters," said NFC chief in the district, Brikha Bahadur Rai.

NFC sources also said their local depots in Bakshila, Ainshelukharka, Haleshi and Khotangbazaar were already emptied.

Meanwhile, District Agriculture Office said the fungus-related diseases damaged the crops this season like in the previous years. While technical assistant at the office, Shambhu Prasad Sah, claimed to have opted for possible treatment of the disease in the crops, local farmers said the office has always been indifferent towards their plight.