Nepal, China improve in hunger index, India lags behind

Nepal is improving in food deprivation, according to Global Hunger Index report released Friday. The U.S.-based International Food Policy and Research Institute said in its report that Nepal ranks 60th in the Global Hunger Index, reducing the number of food-deprived Nepalese by 6.6 percent over the past decade. Among he 79 countries included in the research, Azerbaijan, China and Malaysia are the top three, while Haiti, Eretria and Burundi are the last three countries with the worst hunger situation. While all the listed countries have gradually improved in food supply, North Korea, Ivory Coast and Botswana have more hungry people than the past, according to the report. "Hunger on a global scale remains serious with 20 countries having levels of hunger that are extremely alarming. Two of three countries with extreme levels are in Sub-Saharan Africa. South Asia is another region that continues to suffer from the highest levels of hunger," the report reads. Although South Asia has the highest hunger level of 22.5, the region has moved forward compared with the 1990 index, which is 26 percent lower, indicating improvements. Meanwhile, despite the country's strong economic growth, India has lagged behind in its hunger index. "Though India has worked to improve food security and nutrition in recent years through government-operated nutrition-relevant social programs, program effectiveness remains uncertain due to absence of up-to-date information. From 2005-2010, India ranked second to last on child underweight -- below Ethiopia," the report says. However, the report has lauded the effort initiated by China as China has improved greatly in reducing under-nutrition and food deprivation in the last 10 years. "China lowered its levels of hunger and under-nutrition through strong commitment to poverty reduction, social security networks, nutrition and health interventions, and improved access to safe water, sanitation and education," the report says. According to experts, unsustainable use of land, water, and energy is threatening the food security of the poorest and most vulnerable around the world. The report suggests that changes in investment and policies to accelerate growth in diversity of crops, access to safe drinking water, and sustainable use of land and energy can completely eradicate the suffering from chronic hunger.