Surkhet, Sept. 28 -- Jawahan Lama, from ward 3 of Shey Phoksundo Rural Municipality in Dolpa, says the barley his seven-member family produces lasts barely three months. With heavy snowfall and no irrigation, the village manages to harvest only one crop a year.

The neighbouring Saldang area hosts a depot of the Food Management and Trade Company Limited, but rice has yet to arrive, forcing locals to pay steep prices. "We mainly need rice during snowfall and Dashain," Lama said. "At other times, the crops we grow remain in the granary."

Palden Gurung of Saldang said Dashain often passes without enough food because of annual shortages. He added that while rice is sold at the depot for Rs58 per kilo, locals must buy it from the market at Rs...