People are facing problems due to the lack of food grains in three sales centres in Upper Dolpa. A shortage of food grains has occurred in the sales centres of Food Management and Trading Company Limited located in Dho, Saldang, and Tinje of three rural municipalities. After the rice distributed in the last fiscal year ran out, there has been a shortage of food grains because no new contract has been awarded for rice supply, according to Bishnu Ghimire, Chief of the Dolpa Branch. Stating that the company sells rice at Rs. 25 per kilogram at Rs. 2,219 per quintal, he informed that purchasing from outside costs up to Rs. 4,500 per quintal.
With Dashain and Tihar approaching, the shortage of food grains has left the locals worried. Chairperson of Shey Phoksundo Rural Municipality, Dhawa Samduk Gurung, said that if transportation of food grains is not completed within Mangsir, a major food crisis will arise in Upper Dolpa. As snowfall occurs in the winter season, rice must be transported by mid-week of October, according to him.
In Upper Dolpa lie Shey Phoksundo, Chharkatangsong, and Dolpobuddha Rural Municipalities. These municipalities which share a border with China have been facing difficulties in transporting food grains.
Karnali Province Office