Exercise for an organic province starts

Since 2017, four governments have been formed in Karnali, all of which have upheld the vision of making Karnali an organic province. The initiative began with the first state government under Chief Minister Mahendra Bahadur Shahi, whose government prioritized this goal in its inaugural meeting. Since then, the concept of an organic province has been a recurring theme in the provincial government’s policies and programs.

However, progress on making Karnali an organic province has been slow. The provincial government is now focusing on a key step: banning chemical pesticides. To achieve this, the government has outlined two main strategies: first, prohibiting the entry of pesticide-laden food products from outside Karnali, and second, eliminating the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers within the province. These strategies aim to make Karnali a pesticide-free region.

Karnali currently imports vegetables, fruits, and other food items from India and other provinces, many of which are at risk of containing pesticide residues. Additionally, pesticides are still being used in agriculture within the province. Given these challenges, transitioning to a pesticide-free or organic province will not be easy. Nonetheless, Minister of Land Management, Agriculture, and Cooperatives Binod Kamar Shah, who is also the spokesperson for the provincial government, is committed to the plan. He stated: "We will not allow our citizens to consume food contaminated with pesticides under any circumstances. We will stop pesticide-laden food at the main entry points and discourage the use of chemical pesticides within Karnali."

In the first phase, the government plans to raise awareness among farmers, encouraging them to switch from chemical to organic fertilizers and pesticides. Minister Shah highlighted the harmful effects of chemical pesticides on human health and the environment, emphasizing that the government's organic province plan aims to address these issues. "We will make Karnali an organic province with the cooperation of everyone," he said, assuring collaboration between provincial and local governments.

Pesticide testing at checkpoints

To prevent pesticide-contaminated products from entering Karnali, pesticide testing will be conducted at the main entry points. The provincial government is establishing pesticide testing laboratories at Harre in Surkhet and Kapurkot in Salyan, two key checkpoints. Buildings for these laboratories have already been constructed, and operations are set to begin this year. The government plans to only allow pesticide-free food into Karnali once the testing system is fully operational at these borders.

Minister Shah noted that vegetables and fruits currently arriving through these checkpoints often contain pesticides, but this will change once the testing labs are operational. Any produce found to contain pesticides will be barred from entering the province.

In addition to border controls, the government will conduct public awareness campaigns and monitor local farmers to ensure they are not using chemical pesticides. Minister Shah also mentioned plans to introduce new legislation on pesticide management, which will penalize those who compromise public health by using harmful pesticides.

Meanwhile, a pesticide laboratory has been established in Birendranagar by the Central Agricultural Laboratory under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development. Once operational, it will test samples of vegetables and fruits before they are sold. If pesticide levels exceed permissible limits, the contaminated produce will be destroyed. "We are consuming vegetables and fruits along with the pesticides they contain," said Mahesh Chandra Acharya, head of the Central Agricultural Laboratory. "This laboratory will ensure that only safe, edible items reach the market."

If more than 45 percent pesticide residue is detected in any sample, the produce will be destroyed, Acharya explained.

Local officials are also emphasizing the importance of awareness. Nilakantha Khanal, deputy head of Birendranagar municipality, stressed the need to educate farmers about the benefits of pesticide-free food. District Coordination Committee chief Gangaram Sunar believes that Karnali can achieve its organic province goal by encouraging farmers to adopt organic practices. Similarly, Chitra Rokaya, head of the Integrated Agricultural Laboratory, urged the government to promote pesticide-free production throughout the region.