Landlocked in the eastern Himalayas between India and China, Bhutan was in self-imposed isolation for centuries, only moving on a cautious plan of development with the launching of the first Five Year Plan (FYP) in 1961. The country’s development philosophy stresses the achievement of equitable and sustainable development over economic growth at any cost. From the beginning, particular emphasis was placed on human development. However, close to one-third of the population suffers from food insecurity and it depends on imports for 34 percent of its cereal needs.
Bhutan is also prone to natural disasters, especially during the rainy season and access roads to remote areas may be closed for up to half the year.
Isolation of many communities from main centres of population
Fierce storms that prevent access to remote areas for up to half the year
Lack of adequate rural credit
Landslides
Soil erosion
WFP Activities
WFP focuses on improving rural, food-insecure households’ access to education, health and agricultural services and enabling them to increase incomes and create assets. It does this through two main activities:
Food for Education (school feeding)
Food for Asset Creation - mostly creation of power tiller tracks, and mule tracks
Overview
