Surkhet, June 8

The government is all set to implement Agriculture and Food Security Porgramme from starting of fiscal year 2012/13 to ensure the food security of the people of eight districts of Far Western and Mid Western Regions.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the progremme would be implemented in Humla, Jumla, Mugu, Dolpa and Kalikot of Karnali Zone, Jajarkot and Seti of Bheri Zone and Bajhang and Bajura district of Seti Zone.

These eight districts are the most vulnerable districts in terms of food security and hunger.

The project would be implemented with the fund of Rs. 58 million.

Out of the total budget, World Bank (WB) would provide financial assistance worth Rs. 46 million and remaining Rs. 12 million would be shared by the government, Dr. Prabhakar Pathak, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, informed.

Dr. Pathak, who is also the coordinator of the programme, said that various activities including increasing agriculture production, development of agriculture technology, livelihood and nutrients food would be launched in the corresponding districts.

Under this project, locals of the remote districts would be made independent by empowering them in food grains production, he said.

Despite many programmes launched to increase the food grains production, the remote mountainous districts heavily rely on foodstuffs imported from other districts and face food shortage every year.

A total of 2.35 million people of the districts would be benefited by the Agriculture and Food Security Programme.