Nepal COVID-19 16 April 2020 Food Security & Vulnerability Update 2 their stock. The demand for milk has estimated 30-40% of harvesting complete dropped by an estimated 60% fol- across the country as of 13 April. While no lowing difficulties in accessing mar- major difficulties are thus far reported, kets and consumer anxiety. some concerns about the smooth operation of machinery, such as combine harvesters, Other risk factors to food availability exist as many machine operators are Indi- exist as Indian producers halted rice an nationals who have since returned to exports last week. While Nepal’s India. The Ministry of Agriculture and Live- market stocks are estimated at three stock Development and Provincial counter- months and this news is not cause parts are maintaining a focus on facilitating for immediate concern, the sus- market functioning across the country, tained suspension of rice or other namely the marketing of goods — harvest, food good exports could affect food transportation and storage. The map here security in the country given Nepal’s shows preliminary estimated wheat produc- high dependence on imports: during tion in Nepal based on the CRAFT method- the first 13 days of the lockdown, ology, but using the previous year’s plant- Nepal imported a total of 25,770 MT ing area as an assumption. of food goods from major trade posts in Biratnagar, Birgunj, Kakarbhitta Markets and Bhairahawa. WFP monitors markets in 68 districts across the country through telephone sur- In country food stocks may be veys to assess possible effects of COVID- enough for three months but are not 19 on market health and commodity prices. spread across the country uniformly. Market surveys capture information on the Hard-to-access markets with low demand and supply situation, transporta- food stock levels include: Humla, tion and labour markets, including the retail Bajura, Bajhang, but also Lamjung, of essential food and non-food commodities Gorkha and Dhading districts. Kar- and skilled and unskilled labour wages. Background/note Macro-situation nali province has organized at least one As a response to the spread of the novel With a slowdown in economic activity due airlift to Humla district and has plans for The first round of the monitoring was com- coronavirus (COVID-19) around the world, to the ongoing lockdown, certain sectors more in Mugu and Dolpa districts. pleted in the first week of April 2020. Over- the Government of Nepal (GoN) ordered a of the economy have been hard hit all, more than 60 percent of traders report- national lockdown from the 24th of March, (illustrative example: brick production has A further variable that may affect food ed to have sufficient food and non-food urging people to stay at home and closing dropped by an estimated 40-50%). Within security is an anticipated shortage in the stocks, however the stock of food and non- schools, businesses and markets. While Agriculture and Livestock, the sectors supply of vegetables in India during the food commodities in Sudurpaschim Prov- the restrictions on movement and activity most affected are considered to be poul- summer months, after farmers suffered ince is reported to be insufficient by 68 per- in Nepal may be exacerbating food securi- try, dairy, vegetables and livestock pro- large losses in vegetable harvests during cent of traders. A majority of traders report- ty issues across the country, they are duction. Confinement has led to a lack of the ongoing lockdown. This could affect ed a low demand for both food and non- steps designed to slow the spread of inputs and difficulties in transportation Nepal, which imported an estimated food commodities. Demand for food and COVID-19, and to mitigate potentially dev- have been pushing down demand for 16,000 MTs of vegetables during the first non-food items has decreased compared to astating economic and social effects in food goods in urban settings in some cas- two weeks of its national lockdown. the previous week due to limited movement Nepal, and reflect measures taken by es. In the poultry sector, daily egg pro- of people and income losses caused by the most countries. duction has dropped to an estimated 2.5 Wheat harvest lockdown. million from over 3 million as feed scarci- The wheat harvesting is ongoing with an ties have left farmers unable to care for World Food Programme Nepal Evidence, Policy and Innovation Unit Page 2 Transportation services and supply of the country has been inconsistent in The provincial commodities have been affected by the terms of the basket of goods and the government has current COVID-19 crisis and lockdown, length of time. Generally, Province-1, suggested to resulting in a limited movement of trucks Bagmati and Gandaki packages are farmers that they and vehicles carrying goods. Compared to meant to last 15 days; those of Karnali can hire wage the previous week, 85 percent of traders and Sudurpaschim 10-15 days, those of labour and har- reported that the supply of goods de- Province-2, 7-10 days, and for Province- vesters from creased, with 90 percent of traders report- 5, 5-7 days. elsewhere if they ing a decrease in transporting trucks and encounter short- other vehicles. Province-1 ages as long as 82 out of 137 Palikas identified 251,852 they abide by It is reported that the labour market has ‘most affected’ households, 129,166 of appropriate so- been highly affected in the ongoing crisis. which have received a relief package. cial distancing Overall, 43 percent of traders reported a Some Palikas in mountain districts have guidelines. low demand for labour, and 22 percent a seen only a minimal impact on local liveli- medium demand. However, some traders hood activities and food security. Bagmati Prov- reported that they did not find labour for ince their daily business activities which The lockdown has remained effective in 63 out of 119 pushed them to close down their busi- restricting population movement; only Palikas identified nesses. Looking at the current supply and essential shops are allowed to 197,211 ‘most transportation situation, markets are likely open. Markets are partially functioning affected’ house- to be vulnerable in terms of availability of holds, of which 82,118 have received a age. Tarakhola Palika in Baglung district is with limited supply; vegetable prices have one example of relief packages including essential goods and market-goers’ pur- increased by 20-50%. More than 100 tea short-term relief package. Kathmandu chasing power should the lockdown per- Metropolitan City alone has thus far iden- locally-produced food, like maize and millet, industries which had reopened their busi- of which 35 kg were distributed to each sist in the coming weeks. ness last week, are now closed again due tified 35,200 households or about 176,000 people, though this number is family with up to 4-members, and 52.5 kg to a short supply of fuel. for families with more than 4 members. By-Province updates expected to rise should the lockdown continue; of these, 28,089 people have As local governments begin to tally the Province-2 received food assistance. Only a limited number of markets are func- numbers of most affected households 71 out of 136 Palikas identified a prelimi- tional, with market stocks in most districts (including daily wage labour working in the nary total of 257,431 ‘most affected’ only sufficient to meet demand for between informal sector, premature returnee mi- Only essential food shops are open in the households (of which socially marginal- two and eight weeks. The provincial gov- grants, marginalized communities and markets following government protocols. ized communities identified include Terai ernment has plans to ease market function- other vulnerable people), WFP is tracking Pharmacies are open the whole day while Dalits: Musahar, Khang, Batar, Mallaha ality by allowing food traders to access this progress by district. The map shown only certain banks are providing services, and Dhanuk, and Muslim people). Some passes to more easily transport goods with- on page 3 represents the relative concen- on reduced hours (1-2 hrs/day). The price 20,760 of these have received a 7-10 day in and outside Gandaki province. As food tration of vulnerable people identified by of vegetables has increased by 50-80% relief package of: 15-20 kg of rice, 1-2 kg supplies from outside the province are lim- the different local governments and in line since the start of the lockdown through of pulses, 2-3 kg of potatoes, 1 litre of oil, ited, vegetable products in provincial mar- with indicative targeting criteria issued by April 10th. Wheat harvesting is estimated 1kg of salt, and 2-4 pieces of soap. kets are mainly coming from farmers of the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General to be 30-35% complete. Labour shortag- es have caused delays in harvesting win- Baglung, Parbat and Tanahu districts. Administration following a cabinet decision Markets are partially functioning with spo- late last March. This work remains ongo- ter crop, while there are indications of radic supply. The price of vegetables has delays in the planting of summer crop Province-5 ing however and revised estimates are gone up by 50-75% since the start of the expected to be available once local gov- (maize and spring paddy) as well. 80 out of 109 Palikas identified 154,016 lockdown through April 10th. The crisis/ households as ‘most affected’, of which ernments finalize the identification. movement restriction has led to a short- Gandaki Province some 87,874 households have received age of wage labour and harvesters in relief support. Reports exist of at least one A note on Palika food assistance packag- 53 out of 85 Palikas identified 79,487 some locations which is expected to ad- Palika having stopped collecting infor- es mentioned below: distribution across versely affect the ongoing wheat harvest.