Import of harvesters banned

KATHMANDU:

The government has banned the import of harvesters through the Cabinet’s decision today citing adverse environmental impact as farmers deliberately set fire to the straw stubble in the field after the grains have been harvested.

Burning straw stubble (as bio mass) has an adverse impact on the environment because of high carbon emissions. This effort by the Nepal government is in line with various countries trying to reduce carbon emissions to minimise the impact of climate change.

However, the government has not banned the import of combine harvesters with baling machine. A harvester with baling machine also bales the hay while harvesting the food grains and the farmers need not burn the straw afterwards. The government also expects to conserve the animal feed through this initiative.

The Ministry of Agricultural Development (MoAD) had sent the proposal to ban the import of harvesters to the Cabinet about three weeks back. Subsequently, this decision also bans renting harvesters.

Farmers in the Tarai region who mostly rent harvesters from India will be affected by this decision. The government had banned harvesters earlier as well, but had to roll back its decision as farmers (of Tarai) launched a mass protest as they were prevented from hiring harvesters at cheaper rates from India.

Source: THT