Economic and environmental assessment of food wastage in Gauradaha municipality, Nepal
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26832/24566632.2026.110104Keywords:
Agricultural, Emissions, Food Security, Household food waste, SustainabilityAbstract
Household food waste presents a growing challenge to both economic security and environmental sustainability, particularly in rural agricultural regions. This study evaluated the economic and environmental implications of food waste at household level in Gauradaha Municipality, Jhapa district, Nepal. Based on a structured survey of 51 households using a self-administered questionnaire, the research examined factors influencing food waste generation and its associated costs. Data were analyzed using MS Excel and RStudio. One-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and proportions were analyzed in R to examine the effects of gender, education, and family size on waste generation, whereas MS Excel was used to assess the quantity of economic and environmental impacts. Economic valuation revealed that household food waste results in a loss of approximately NRS 35.21 (0.24 USD) per household per week, equivalent to less than 1% of annual household income. Environmentally, each household's food wastage contributes an estimated 0.92 kg of CO₂ emissions and consumes nearly 477.70 liters of water. Among food categories, cereals were identified as having the highest economic and environmental impact. Furthermore, overcooking emerged as the leading cause of waste, with refrigeration being the most commonly used storage method, yet no measures of value addition, processing and sustainable storage methods were practiced effectively, which reflects changing lifestyles, urbanization, and time constraints. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted strategies that address food waste behaviour, promote efficient storage practices, and reduce the broader sustainability burdens at the household level in rural Nepal.Downloads
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