A week long programme to celebrate the World Food Day and International Day for the Eradication of Poverty was concluded on 22nd October 2011. A morning rally was organized by South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE) and National Network on Right to Food, Nepal (RtFN) on 22nd October as concluding event.

The rally passed through Bagbazar, Putalisadak, Exhibition Road, Shahid Gate and converged into a mass meeting at Shantibatika, Ratnapark chanting various slogans on right to food, food security and food sovereignty. More than 500 people from peasant movement, women movement, civil society organisations, NGOs and INGOs participated in the rally.

Right to Food Network, Nepal (RtFN) and Women in Policy Advocacy, Food and Climate Justice Alliance (WIPFCA) have jointly organized an interaction programme on ‘Food Adulteration: Our Concerns over Quality Food Security’ in Kathmandu on 27 September 2011. Representatives from civil society organisations, women and peasant organisations, CA members, journalists, farmers and government officials discussed on the current issues of food adulteration and possible ways  to regulate and control for ensuring quality food to the consumers.

The National Network on Right to Food Nepal (RtFN) is a national level loose network for undertaking collective efforts and coordinating individuals and organisations who are engaged in promoting the human Right to Food in Nepal. It was formed in July 2007. The RtFN is to serve as a watchdog in the cases of human right to food violations and advocate for inclusion of human right to food as a fundamental right in the new Constitution of Nepal and thereof policies, and hold the State and other relevant parties accountable for realization of the obligations to respect, protect and fulfil the human Right to Food as stated in Article 11 of the General Comment 12 on the International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) of 1966.

The RtFN, thus, focuses its strategic interventions towards policy advocacy, networking, lobbying and campaigning at national, regional and local levels for promoting and strengthening the human Right to Food and food sovereignty in Nepal. Its thematic areas of intervention are: raising awareness on the issues and concerns of human Right to Food and the cases of its violations; facilitate capacity building of CSOs on the issues of food sovereignty and mainstreaming of the human Right to Food in government policies; facilitate implementation of campaigns, seminars, workshops and roundtables; and share relevant information and learning among different stakeholders.

Interested individuals and organisations who subscribe to the internationally accepted principles and philosophy of human Right to Food are always welcome to join this network and contribute towards promoting and protecting the human Right to Food of Nepalese people.

Yadav Raj Joshi
 
Kathmandu, April 8:

Nearly half of the 75 districts of Nepal will face an acute food shortage if the government does not act fast. At present, 37 districts are facing food shortage.

“We don’t have adequate funds to supply food in drought-hit areas,” said Nepal Food Corporation general manager Beni Bahadur Rawal. According to him, NFC has managed to supply only half the required quantity of rice till March-end.