Post report Kathmandu, Oct 1:

The World Bank has approved an assistance package worth US$ 36 million for Nepal to help people suffering from food insecurity due to rising food prices and crop failure from the recent floods. The assistance will be provided under the Nepal Food Price Crisis Response Programme of the World Bank, which was developed to help Nepal mitigate the impact of rising food prices by improving access to food and strengthening agricultural production, particularly for food insecure districts and small landholders According to the World Food Programme (WFP), at least 33 districts in Nepal are now chronically food insecure, with more than six million people vulnerable. Out of them, 2.5 million are in immediate need of food assistance. "The programme will support the Government of Nepal's national strategy to maintain and enhance food security," said Susan Goldmark, World Bank Country Director for Nepal, according to a press statement issued on yesterday by the World Bank.

She added that the fund would support immediate social safety net measures to ensure food for vulnerable households in food insecure districts as well as longer term measures to raise agricultural yield and consequently the production of staples. The statement stated the programme would partner with WFP to provide immediate support to vulnerable households in the 33 districts. Under the programme, public works employment of 50 to 70 days a year will be provided to about 480,000 individuals.

The programme will also support fertiliser use in remote districts, small irrigation schemes, local production of improved seeds and soil fertility management. The program will also help the government to temporarily increase its budget for transport subsidy and will ensure availability of fertilisers to farmers. The programme will promote alternative approaches to raising soil fertility alongside the seed programme since the combined effects of increased replacement level of seeds, access to irrigation and improved soil fertility can be significant.

Source: The Kathmandu Post, 02 October, 2008