Poor harvest of summer crops triggered by scanty rainfall has worsened food security situation in Mugu district.

Around 90 percent people in the district are involved in agriculture, and they are worried about possible food shortage this year.

Some impoverished settlements are already facing food shortage.

Photu, Jima, Kalai, Natharpu, Dhainakot, Rara, and Vihee VDCs in the district faced shortage of foodstuffs from the end of October as the harvest plunged due to

dry spell. People in the villages, mainly impoverished Dalits, are hit hard by the shortage. Many people from the villages have started traveling to India to get rid of the scarcity.

Forty-year-old Nandabir Damai of Photu-5 said he is managing his daily livelihood selling cattle. “Crops failed this year due to the drought,” he said, adding that he was compelled to sell goats after stored grains finished.

Though there is no food left in the house, Nandabir said, he hopes to feed his seven-member family by selling goats one by one. Likewise, Buddha Singh Damai of Rawalbada in Photo VDC

also shared similar ordeal. He said people in the village are forced to sell goats and seeds for survival.

There are around 35 Dalit households in Rawalbada and most of them are worried about feeding their families.

“Rice, millet and other crops dried up due to lack of water. All villagers will face dearth of food this year,” said Dhane Damai, another local.

Locals who own plenty of land in the area are also facing difficulties as the farmlands remained barren.

According to the District Agriculture Development Office, crops worth around Rs 210 million were destroyed due to the prolonged drought in the district. Chief District Officer Shambhu Prasad Regmi said they have already informed the government about the drought. Local administration has categorised the seven VDCs as highly affected area.

Meanwhile, Nepal Food Corporation (NFC) said it managed 2,000 quintals of rice for the area. Local people are deprived of subsidised rice as NFC depot in Sorukot is still not in operation.