Thirteenth Global Studies Conference

Abstract

More than 70 percent of Nepal’s population works in agriculture. Despite Nepal’s agricultural potential, two out of every three Nepalese suffer from food insecurity at some time during the year. The prevalence of stunting for Nepal stands at 37.4% nationally, and 47% of children under five are stunted in Feed the Future target regions. Food insecurity occurs when people are undernourished as an outcome of the physical inaccessibility of food, their lack of social or economic access to adequate food, and inadequate food utilization. This case study was conducted in rural areas of Kathmandu district to determine the situation of calorie intake and to find number of food insecure people at household level, and to analyze the major factors accountable for food insecurity at household level. The data were collected through field surveys of 500 households from five villages. Food insecure households account 8.67 percent and 35 percent of households have access of food less than 1900 and 2500 calories per person a day, 13 percent of households have the access to safe drinking, and more than 42 percent households were identified without proper toilets. Majority of households have a monthly income of less than Rs. 5000($50). At least 28 percent households were without holding, and more than 31 percent households live without keeping livestock. Majority of households belong to the marginal category of farmers and have low income with poor purchasing that leads to improper accessibility, stability, and absorption of food.