Food and Nutrition Security in Nepal
Description
In this paper, we present the outcomes of a computer-based model that demonstrates the food security and deficit areas of Nepal’s 77 districts within seven provinces. This food and nutrient requirement analysis is done at 753 units (460 Village Councils, 276 municipalities, 11 sub-metropolitans, and 6 metropolitan—hereafter referred to as VCM). Agricultural lands for each VCM are estimated from recent satellite images. Of the agricultural lands, areas within a 2-km distance from water bodies and within the slope of 0-0.5 percent are classified as irrigable lands that are suitable to produce paddy and winter crops. Agricultural lands with over 0.5 percent slope and over 2 km distance from water bodies are classified as non-irrigable—these are used for cereal crop production. Taking 20 years average yields per hectare of various crops from 75 districts (now 77); total crop production is estimated for both irrigable and non-irrigable lands for each individual VCM. The total population for each VCM is taken from the Local Level Reconstruction Council (LLRC) and Election Commission (EC). Using the population age cohort for Nepal that classifies Nepal’s Demography between the ages of 0-14, 15-59, and 60 and above, populations for each VCM are classified according to these groups. Nutrient (calorie) requirements for different age cohorts is calculated using the nutrient tables prepared by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Three models are run to estimate the food requirements for both genders for different age cohorts. Each cohort is divided into a) sedentary; b) moderately active; and c) active. Based on the food and nutrient needs (assuming 2,200 calories need for each person per day in a normal condition), we compared the food security in each VCM, across VCM within a district, and across districts within a province and among provinces within Nepal.
Food and Nutrition Security in Nepal
In this paper, we present the outcomes of a computer-based model that demonstrates the food security and deficit areas of Nepal’s 77 districts within seven provinces. This food and nutrient requirement analysis is done at 753 units (460 Village Councils, 276 municipalities, 11 sub-metropolitans, and 6 metropolitan—hereafter referred to as VCM). Agricultural lands for each VCM are estimated from recent satellite images. Of the agricultural lands, areas within a 2-km distance from water bodies and within the slope of 0-0.5 percent are classified as irrigable lands that are suitable to produce paddy and winter crops. Agricultural lands with over 0.5 percent slope and over 2 km distance from water bodies are classified as non-irrigable—these are used for cereal crop production. Taking 20 years average yields per hectare of various crops from 75 districts (now 77); total crop production is estimated for both irrigable and non-irrigable lands for each individual VCM. The total population for each VCM is taken from the Local Level Reconstruction Council (LLRC) and Election Commission (EC). Using the population age cohort for Nepal that classifies Nepal’s Demography between the ages of 0-14, 15-59, and 60 and above, populations for each VCM are classified according to these groups. Nutrient (calorie) requirements for different age cohorts is calculated using the nutrient tables prepared by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Three models are run to estimate the food requirements for both genders for different age cohorts. Each cohort is divided into a) sedentary; b) moderately active; and c) active. Based on the food and nutrient needs (assuming 2,200 calories need for each person per day in a normal condition), we compared the food security in each VCM, across VCM within a district, and across districts within a province and among provinces within Nepal.