People from the impoverished Karnali region have been compelled to pay three times the actual prices for food products due to high transportation costs.

The region has been reeling under starvation as it has not witnessed rainfall since mid-July and agricultural production has nosedived.

Moreover, the failure of Nepal Food Corporation (NFC) to re-establish its depot in the region has forced the people from Humla Mugu and Bajura to pay higher food prices.

According to Tika Bahadur Shahi of Mugu, mota rice, which used to cost Rs50 per kg in the district headquarters of Gamgadi earlier, is now priced at Rs120. While people living in villages near the district headquarters have been getting rice based on a fixed quota system, people of 14 far-flung VDCs have been facing severe crisis as as rice is not available in villages. The villagers have to travel all

the way to the district

headquarters for making

purchases, paying high transportation costs.

“The price of rice in Gamgadi is almost normal. However, we are compelled to pay a significantly higher cost for transporting these items to our villages. We are not being able to think about anything else besides how to fulfil our daily needs for food,” Kali Bahadur Nepali said.

Similar is the condition of Aag Bahadur Shahi. He visits the district headquarters three times a month.

People of Sarkideu, Baire, Saya, Rodikot, Gothi, Melchham, Shreemasta, Darma and Mimi VDCs are competed to travel to Gamgadhi, while people from Jaire, Shree Nagar, Kalika, Maila and Madana VDC travel to Kolchi, Bajura for purchasing food stuffs.