Nepal Farmers: Aid Cuts & Food Security
- PALPA DISTRICT, Nepal - Kanta Rajali, 50, a farmer in rural Nepal, faces a daily struggle to feed her family after recent cuts in USAID funding.
- The funding cuts, impacting programs designed to improve access to seeds, fertilizers, and agricultural tools, have intensified the challenges for smallholder farmers already struggling with poverty, malnutrition, and...
- She cultivates maize, mustard, barley and potatoes, but harvests now last only four months, a stark contrast to previous years.
Nepal’s smallholder farmers now face increased hunger and food insecurity following crucial USAID funding cuts. Kanta Rajali, a resilient farmer, exemplifies the struggles of those battling poverty, malnutrition, and the impacts of climate change, with harvests dwindling due to drought and pests. Agriculture, vital for nepal’s economy, is hampered by these aid reductions, impacting key programs. The loss of aid jeopardizes poverty reduction goals and indigenous seed programs, with farmers struggling to access markets. This crisis underscores the urgent need to address the primary_keyword: “food security” challenges in Nepal. Discover the critical role of secondary_keyword: “aid cuts” and their impact on food production, and the farmers’ plight. News Directory 3 can provide more details. Discover what’s next …
Nepal Farmers Face Hunger After USAID Cuts
PALPA DISTRICT, Nepal - Kanta Rajali, 50, a farmer in rural Nepal, faces a daily struggle to feed her family after recent cuts in USAID funding. With her husband and two sons battling illnesses, rajali is the sole provider, grappling with decreased crop yields due to changing seasonal patterns.
The funding cuts, impacting programs designed to improve access to seeds, fertilizers, and agricultural tools, have intensified the challenges for smallholder farmers already struggling with poverty, malnutrition, and climate change. nepal’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Progress reports that six USAID programs, worth between $104 million and $114 million, were terminated.
Rajali’s experience reflects the broader crisis. She cultivates maize, mustard, barley and potatoes, but harvests now last only four months, a stark contrast to previous years. she supplements her farm income with occasional labour,earning about $3.64 a day,barely enough to provide basic nutrition for her family.
Agriculture accounts for nearly a quarter of Nepal’s economy, employing 66% of workers, most of whom are women, according to the U.N. World Food Program.despite smallholder farmers producing 80% of the nation’s food, low yields have driven a 65% increase in food imports since 2015. A 2022-2023 survey showed that 20.3% of the population lives below the poverty line.
Ram Krishna Shrestha,a joint secretary within the Ministry of Agriculture,said the loss of USAID funding will make meeting Nepal’s poverty reduction goals more difficult. He noted that these programs had strengthened farmers’ capacity to earn a living and manage markets independently. He fears malnutrition will increase and farmers will become poorer.
keshav Devkota, head of the Center for Crop Development and Agricultural Bio-diversity Conservation, said the center can no longer promote climate-resistant indigenous seed varieties aimed at reducing malnutrition. Rukmangat Bhattarai, chairman of Rainadevi Chhahara, Rajali’s rural municipality, expressed concern about the impact on farmers who grow oranges, notably regarding market access.
Rajali replaced her traditional crops with orange trees in 2018, hoping for a stable income.However, drought, mold, hail, and insects have damaged the fruit, making orange production unreliable. She also faces challenges watering her sparse maize crop,relying on a well an hour away when tap water is insufficient.
Rajali,like many farmers,depends on rain for irrigation,but inadequate rainfall over the past 11 winters has exacerbated the problem. She feels trapped in a cycle of misery, with the loss of USAID subsidies for seedlings, fertilizer, and market access adding to her burden. Despite her struggles,Rajali remains determined to provide for her family.
“I will not rest until I can feed my family,” Rajali said.