State-owned Nepal Food Corporation (NFC) has 7,800 tons of rice, wheat and beans in stock in Kathmandu Valley alone. Similarly, government warehouses across the country have 120,000 tons of sugar and 113,000 tons of salt in stock.
Government officials say the market is unlikely to see shortage of commodities anytime soon as they have sufficient food in stock and that the country is self-sufficient in food commodities.
Talking to Republica, Hari Narayan Belbase, director of Department of Commerce and Supply Management (DoCSM) said there won't be shortage of food commodities. "Our stock of rice, wheat and beans will last for months. Similarly, we have sufficient salt and sugar in stock to meet demand of one year and five months, respectively," added Belbase.
He also said the obstruction in supplies from India won't affect food supply in domestic market. "The blockade has, however, seriously affected supply of fuel as India is the sole supplier of petroleum products to Nepal," Belbase said, adding, "People should wisely use available petroleum products. Priority should be given to public vehicles and vehicles used to transport essential commodities."
Shrimani Raj Khanal, spokesperson of Nepal Food Corporation, agreed with Belbase and said, "We don't have problems related to food supplies. Along with government agencies, traders also have huge amount of food in stock," he said.
Urmila Shrestha, general manager of Salt Trading Corporation (STC), said the corporation has sufficient salt in stock. "But demand for sugar and salt has increased notably," Shrestha said, adding, "As per the current demand, our stock is sufficient to meet the demand for at least seven months."
Eating junk food is bad for health!
'Control black-marketing'
Consumer activists have urged the government to control artificial shortage of essential goods and take action against those involved in such activities.
Stating that some traders have been taking undue benefits of shortage of different commodities, they have urged the government to intensify market monitoring activities and take action against wrongdoers accordingly.
Issuing a press statement on Sunday, Forum for Protection of Consumers Rights (FPCR) said, "All stakeholders should act responsibly to control arbitrary rise in price of essential commodities, artificial shortage, and black-marketing activities," it added.
Meanwhile, FPCR have also urged agitating parties and groups to end protest programs in Tarai and help easy supply of essential goods through all entry points.
