Gorkha 11 June 2015 Venue: DDC Meeting Room Chaired By: Tirtha Kumar Shrestha, Sr

Food Security Cluster Meeting – Gorkha 11 June 2015 Venue: DDC Meeting Room Chaired by: Tirtha Kumar Shrestha, Sr. District Agriculture Development Officer

The meeting on the chairmanship of DADO, Mr. Tirtha Kumar shrestha, in the DDC premises. The representative of member organization shared their progress update and plan for upcoming days which are given below in bullet.

DADO (Government)

 DADO has planning to distribute vegetable composite seeds on joint collaboration with FAO for Northern belt of district. Specially, those HHs who did not receive the rice seeds.  It was also shared by DADO that there is high demand of big cardamom & coffee's seedlings (around 495000 saplings) from those affected area which is technically appropriate for cultivation or might be major activities for the better income source. The pocket areas of these species are Hansapur, Gyalchok, Kharibot, Kerabari, Saurpani, Swara, Barpak etc. DADO has also appeal to all cluster partners to reallocate their resource to meet these big gaps.  DADO said that food gaps will be in the VDC of northern belt for upcoming 3 month due to rainy seasons. During that period, there will not be access of transportation and air operation. So, DADO requested to cluster members especially to WFP for planning to transport and storage food for at least 3 month on that area to mitigate the chances of food gaps.  All cluster members were highly requested by cluster coordinator to support on the small irrigation project damaged by earthquake. FAO (Food & Agriculture Organization)  1,980 vegetable composite pocket was transported to distribution center of Sirdibash Agriculture service center by Air. These are distributed to 1959 HHs living in 7 VDC of Northern belt namely Sirdibas, Bihi, Loho, Chumchet, Chhekempar, Prok and samagaun in close coordination with DADO.  8,330 vegetable Composite pocket are in planning to distribute to those affected HHs living in 11 VDC located under Machhikhola, Palungtar, saurapani, Jaubari, Manakamana agriculture service center. The planned VDC are Gumda, Kerauja, Kasigaun, Uhiya, Laprak, Lapu, Aappipal, Harmi, Barpak, Jaubari and Manakamana. Good Neighbors (GN)  Out of 6.590 MT paddy seed, 2.765 MT for 548 HHs of Finam , 2.606 MT for 944 HHs of Aaruarbaang and 1.220 MT for 307 HHs of Makawanpur has been distributed in coordination of DADO. The varieties of seeds were Ramdin, Sabitri, Khumal, Makawanpur and sukka.  Based on assessment, GN is planning for cardamom sapling support to the affected HHs in Manbu, Lapu, Thumu and Arubang. Furthermore, GN has regular coffee promotion program that is more focused in low land.

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CARE  CARE has distributed 15,000 kg paddy seeds in affected HHs of saurpani, Simjung, Gankhu, Chhoprak, Khoplang, Palungtar and Chyangli.  750 cartons of Biscuits had been distributed to the school students of saurpani & Arughat Resource center.  CARE has the plan to distribute vegetable seeds for 3000 HHs and cardamom sapling in coordination with DADO. Save the children  79.82 MT rice seeds have been distributed to those affected HHs living in 29 VDC and 2 Municipality.  Save the Children has the plan to intervene the unconditional cash transfer program for HHs to meet the immediate need in Masel, Dhawa & Nareshwar VDC.  Save the Children is also planning for conditional Cash Transfer Program to recover the market damaged by earthquake. It will be started initially in Thumi VDC. Red Cross  First round distribution was already completed and second round food distribution will be distributed from next week on the support of WFP.  Three EDP (Extended delivery point) are established by Red Cross in chorkate, Barpak & Ghyampesal for distributing the food in effective and efficient manner. WFP  Second round food distribution is going to be started in next week on the partnership with Red cross & save the children.  As of 11 June, 131. 00 MT foods already dropped in seven VDC.

Gaps

 Cardamom pocket area is badly affected by landslide and farmers lost cardamom and over 495000 cardamom sapling found gaps.  Vegetables seeds are also required to the farmers living at all ecological zone.  Citrus sapling especially lemon and orange is high demand. DADO can provide further technical detail and distribution support. Challenges

 Transportation of food for VDC of northern belt will be very difficult in coming monsoon season.  Logistic support to reach small amount of seed to rural corner became more expensive.

Next Meeting 18 June 2015 at 10.15 at DDC meeting Hall.

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