Nepal's Karnali Province Faces Food Crisis After Nutrition Programme Halted
Karnali Province in Nepal faces a growing food crisis after the government halted a key nutrition programme. The fortified flour distribution scheme, running since 2014, was stopped this fiscal year due to a budget cut of around Rs100 million. Officials now warn that years of progress in fighting malnutrition could be undone as a result. The suspended programme provided free fortified flour to pregnant women, new mothers, and young children aged six to 24 months. Its goal was to tackle chronic malnutrition in Karnali, where over 30% of children under five suffer from stunting—the highest rate in Nepal. Health officials admit that stopping the scheme may already have reversed some of the gains made in recent years.
Food insecurity in Karnali has worsened significantly over the past five years. Between 2021 and 2025, the share of affected households rose from 42% to 58%, according to Nepal's Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Survey. This trend contrasts sharply with the national average, which fell from 28% to 22% in the same period. Local reports from organisations like the World Food Programme highlight multiple causes: remote geography driving up transport costs, frequent droughts and floods linked to climate change, poor soil quality, and limited irrigation. Political instability and high poverty rates—exceeding 40%—have further delayed aid and development efforts. Nutrition experts stress that cutting the province's nutrition budget will have lasting consequences. Dr Shyam Raj Upreti, former director general of the Department of Health Services, noted that while the government recently approved free mid-day meals for six months, no long-term plan exists. Many healthcare initiatives in Nepal, including nutrition schemes, operate in crisis mode due to unreliable funding and overreliance on donors. Nationally, Nepal has made progress in reducing child stunting, dropping from 57% in 2001 to 25% in 2022. But without sustained support, these achievements remain at risk, particularly in vulnerable regions like Karnali.
The suspension of the fortified flour programme leaves thousands of women and children in Karnali without vital nutritional support. With food insecurity rising and no stable funding in place, health officials fear further setbacks in the fight against malnutrition. The province's long-term progress now depends on securing consistent resources and planning.
