NGOs provoking farmers: Agri Minister

KATHMANDU, July 18:

Minister for Agricultural Development Hari Prasad Parajuli on Friday accused different non-governmental organizations (NGOs) of provoking farmers for dump tomatoes.

Speaking at a program in the capital on Friday, Parajuli said some so-called farmers-oriented organizations were encouraging farmers to go against the government´s recent moves to control excessive use of pesticides in fruits and vegetables.

Referring to the delegation of farmers that reached the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MoAD) on Wednesday, Parajuli said, “The delegation arrived at the ministry without prior notice. Indirectly, they were demanding that the government remove pesticide residue testing lab installed at the Kalimati vegetables market. Those farmers might have been provoked by some external forces.”

As a part of their protest, farmers had dumped eight tons of tomato in front of Kalimati Vegetable Market on Monday.

During the meeting with Parajuli, farmers had demanded that the government expand market for agriculture products and ease administrative procedures for export of vegetables including tomato.

Minister Parajuli also said some NGOs were encouraging farmers to create chaos as the ongoing pesticide residue checking system was not helping their cause. He said the ministry would take strong action against such NGOs if they are found guilty.

MINISTER POINTS FINGERS AT JOURNOS TOO

Minister Parajuli also said some journalists have received payment to raise the issue.

“Journalists generally leave once they get necessary information for their news. But on that day (Wednesday), they were with the delegation (of farmers) and stayed with them for more than two and half hours as they were there for paid coverage,” Parajuli said, adding that he intentionally extended the meeting to find out the real intention of journalists

Source: Republica