Pesticide use in fruits, vegetables monitored at Valley entry points

Kathmandu / February 22: The Department of Food Technology and Quality Control and the Directorate of Crop Protection have started regular monitoring of the use of pesticides in fruits and vegetables entering the Kathmandu Valley.

The two government bodies have been carrying out the monitoring at the four entry points to the Kathmandu Valley – Sanga in the east, Thankot in the west, Pharping in the south and Kakani in the north.

The Department and the Directorate have started the monitoring programme at these four entry points since a week in response to the public complaints that widespread use of pesticides was found in fruits and vegetables imported into the Valley and sold in the local market.

The Ministry of Agriculture Development had prepared an action plan and directed the Directorate for effective and stringent monitoring.

The Ministry has stated that from the monitoring carried out so far it has not found the level of pesticide used on fruits and vegetables entering Kathmandu Valley and sold in the local markets was to the permissible limit.

As per the action plan, besides fruits and vegetables monitoring shall also be carried out of other food items. RSS