September 19: About 27% of the Bhutanese population is
undernourished according to an analysis report prepared by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The report is based on the 2007 Bhutan living standard survey. The report was presented yesterday at a workshop in the capital.

According to the report, more than 28% of the rural population and 21.5% of the urban population are undernourished.

The report attributes food instability as the main factor for undernourishment.

According to the report, 43% of the food shortages are due to insufficient land followed by wild animals damaging crops at 31%.

21% of the food shortages are due to unproductive land and 15% are due to shortage of labor.

Lack of infrastructure like roads in remote areas is another reason for food instability in rural areas.

According to Katia Covarrubias of the Economic and Social Department of the Food and Agriculture Organizations of the United Nations, the findings of the report will be useful in planning government policies.

Dr Kinley Dorji, an economist from the regional FAO office in Bangkok said there is food security in Bhutan.

“Food has to be available and accessible to the people on a continuous basis. You have to have the right environment in terms of sanitation, disease free where your body can utilize the food that is ingested,” he said.

The workshop was organized to introduce the concept of right to food and its legal aspects in Bhutan. It was organized by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture.