Ensure public health

The Himalayan Times

18 July 2019

Ensure public health

Nepal used to be and is known with its abundant water resources, dense natural forests, existence of popular Himalayan ranges and unique traditional farming system. However, not all these saying are still relevant, especially those dense forests and traditional farming system. The forest cover has been gradually shrinking due to the government’s poor governance and human encroachment. Illegal logging is another serious factor for the gradual disappearance of forest areas. Traditional farming practices are almost gone in the country and have been replaced by modern farming system where organic fertilizers have been badly displaced by heavy use of pesticides.

Having said this, who is to blame for the situation? Was it the central government and its policies? Was it the people who encroached forest land in close collaboration with political party leaders? Is the District Forest Office, responsible for the management of the forest to blame for the gradual disappearance of the forests? Likewise, who is to blame for encouraging farmers to use imported fertilizer and pesticides, leaving behind traditional ways of using organic manure in the name of increasing productivity? Did the District Agriculture Office fail to carry out its responsibility? 

These questions and queries will remain unanswered until the political leaders, the government and its concerned authorities try to brood over their past performance and act accordingly to take the necessary measures. Otherwise, the recent government’s decision to make pesticide residue test mandatory for imported vegetables and fruits and withdraw it after a few days will continue to haunt them for jeopardizing the people’s health “Vegetable imports” (THT, July 16, Page 6). It is yet to be seen whether the government and its concerned authorities will learn a lesson from this episode and ensure that imported vegetables are safe for people’s health.

Rai Biren Bangdel

Maharajgunj