Kathmandu, March 27 -- With Nepal's increasing dependence on imported food, experts on Thursday called for placing nutrition at the centre of trade policy, warning that fragmented policymaking is worsening both health outcomes and food security.

Presenting findings from a study conducted by the South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment under the South Asian Coalition for Improved Nutrition, with support from the International Development Research Center, researchers said Nepal continues to face alarming nutrition indicators.

According to the report, 26 percent of children in Nepal are stunted, 7 percent are wasted, 19 percent are underweight, and 43 percent of babies aged 6-59 months are anaemic-figures that underline the lon...