Karnali Province Leads in Food Security and Organic Production, Says Official

Birendranagar. Sanjeev Kumar Karna, Secretary of the Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives of Karnali Province, stated that Karnali is the most food-secure among the seven provinces.

Speaking at an 'Orientation Program on Food Hygiene and Quality for Officials and Employees Involved in Market Monitoring at Provincial and Local Levels' organized by the Food Technology and Quality Control Office, Surkhet, on Monday, Secretary Karna emphasized that Karnali's soil and its food crops are safer than those of other provinces.

"Our food must be clean and of high quality. The essential nutrients required by the body are found in the crops produced here," he said. "Essentially, Karnali Province has launched a campaign to discourage the use of chemicals and emphasize organic production." He further stressed the need to conduct awareness programs for citizens regarding the consumption of clean and quality food through the coordination and collaboration of stakeholders.

Santosh Dahal, Acting Chief of the Food Technology and Quality Control Office, Surkhet, stated that safe production, conscious consumers, and a responsible administration are essential for ensuring clean and quality food. He noted that as the risks to human life from foodborne diseases are increasing, clean and quality food has become a necessity.

Participants in the program suggested that due to modern lifestyles, people are increasingly suffering from non-communicable diseases rather than communicable ones, making it crucial that everything from farm to plate is clean and safe. They emphasized the need for awareness programs regarding food consumption to dispel misconceptions and address flaws in public perception, taste, and outlook.