KATHMANDU, Nov 24: Nepal has advanced to the 69th rank in the Global Hunger Index (GHI), moving from the 81st position within a year, among 136 countries. The country now holds a 15.0 GHI score, indicating moderate hunger, showcasing a substantial improvement.

The GHI 2023 annual report, jointly published by Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe, was unveiled on Friday in Kathmandu. The scale of the index ranges from 0 to 100, where zero denotes zero hunger, and 100 represents the most vulnerable region. GHI scores are based on four key indicators—child stunting, child wasting, undernourishment, and child mortality. This year, the global GHI score of 18.3 is considered moderate, with South Asia and Africa South of the Sahara having the highest hunger levels.

The report highlights the challenges faced by regions with large youth populations, as they grapple with the impacts of global crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, the Russia-Ukraine war, and other political unrests.

While Nepal has made significant progress, threats to food security and nutrition persist, particularly for vulnerable and marginalized communities, states the report. The progress, however, does not guarantee a food-secure nation in the near future, as there is still a lack of focus on youth and adolescent health.

Dr Thomas Prinz, Ambassador of Germany to Nepal, expressed caution, stating that the report's findings are not cause for celebration, given that 735 million people worldwide suffer from chronic hunger and over three billion cannot afford a healthy diet. He acknowledged Nepal's positive example but highlighted the country's vulnerability to climate change and dependence on agriculture.

The report reveals that progress against hunger worldwide has stalled since 2015, with the compounded impacts of climate change, conflicts, economic shocks, the global pandemic, and the Russia-Ukraine war exacerbating social and economic inequalities.

Dr Yamuna Ghale, a food security expert, emphasized how the migration of youth has impacted food security, leading to a shortage of labor in the agriculture sector and a negative impact on production. She said, “With the increase in migration of young people to foreign countries, there is a shortage of labor in the market which has also impacted the agriculture sector. The lack of labor has also made a negative impact on production.”

Dr Govinda Prasad Sharma, secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, acknowledged the decline in poverty and hunger but highlighted challenges in specific geographic regions and communities in Nepal, such as Madesh and Karnali. He noted a 20 percent rise in food prices after the COVID-19 pandemic, with potential repercussions for those with low incomes.

During a panel discussion, Sumana Shrestha, a lawmaker from Rastriya Swatantra Party, raised concerns about the quality of data, citing discrepancies between government data and on-the-ground findings regarding malnourishment cases. 

“A government data had shown that there were 37 cases of malnourishment in the whole district, however, when the researchers went, they found 67 people in a single ward,” she said adding, “It’s very important to make sure that the data we are relying on is of quality.”

Sambridhi Gyawali, CEO of Nepal Republic Media, urged a change in narratives about agriculture to encourage youth to invest or work in the sector, emphasizing that food is a timeless and profitable business idea. 

“Food will never go out of fashion. It is a great business idea for any entrepreneur. However, people are shying away from it. Thus, we need to change narratives about what agriculture is and entice people to be a part of it,” she emphasized.

The report recommends that governments support and diversify agricultural production, integrating indigenous and traditional knowledge with modern technologies, and implementing mechanisms to make agriculture less laborious and more profitable.

 
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