Japan has agreed to extend a grant assistance of Rs324. 8 million to Nepal for implementing a food assistance programme in various parts of the country.

Shankar Prasad Adhikari, secretary at the Ministry of Finance, and Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Masashi Ogawa exchanged notes to this effect of behalf of their respective governments at the Ministry of Finance on Thursday.

The aid aims to assist the government of Nepal in implementing the programme to ensure the needy people food security, according to a statement issued by the Japanese Embassy in Kathmandu.

Last year Nepal was hit by several natural calamities including floods and heavy rains that caused many agricultural products to be washed away or left them to wither in the fields resulting in food shortages.

The assistance will help the government procure rice and supply it to people living in the food-deficit districts, it was stated.