Food habits and food insecurity

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Permalink Reply by Dhan Bahadur AIR on January 11, 2011 at 2:38am

Dear Chiranjibi and all,

 

The  changing food habits of rural people in many mountain districts of Nepal has increased food insecurity among the mountain communities. Introduction of  subsidized foods by foods  aid is fueling the rice preference habits of mountain communities. Which is  leading  to decrease  indigenous or local  food production and consumption among  mountainous communities . The Karnali one of prominent mountain regions in western Himalayas highly of Nepal has adversely affected. In the recent days many farmers prefer to leave their lands fallow and go for work as wage laborer, to manage their daily livelihoods.  The problems of declining of local production and consumption are due to; low productivity because of the  traditional farming practices adopted by local farmers; no market opportunity for  local products, limited food items prepared from local products like potato, bean, apple, barely, maize, buckwheat etc. The white rice provided under subsidized food aid scheme has substituted the local  food crops. Because increased use of rice and other imported food products and declining of local production caused  food in-secured in the region. 

Any experience, suggestion and ideas to reinstate local production system are highly welcomed.

 

Permalink Reply by Fehmeen Khan on January 21, 2011 at 1:49pm

Interesting question. I agree with Dhan's detailed answer and would add to this. I think over-reliance on one type of food for meals can reduce food security because it makes people's diets vulnerable to weather conditions and possible pest attacks. If a variety of food items are consumed, people always have a back-up item in place.