Adhikari, J.

There is growing interest of private sector in food industries. This has come because of growing urbanization and better transportation opportunities as food now can be sent from one location to another at a fast rate than in the past. Moreover, the knowledge of food processing and quality is growing, and private sector has cashed this desire through establishing food processing industries.

Vulnerabilities to food insecurity are growing in Nepal. These vulnerabilities come from various factors - namely general decline in food production or agricultural growth, food price rise, seasonality in agricultural production, higher poverty rate in the food deficit areas, changes in food habits consuming junk food, especially in urban areas, lack of income and employment opportunities, lack of effective transportation for food distribution, especially in the hills and mountains, and chronic utilization problems such as inadequate access to health services, water and sanitation.