After public complaints concerning pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables entering the Kathmandu Valley, the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control and the Directorate of Crop Protection have started regular monitoring of the use of pesticides on fruit and vegetable imports.
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 Ministry of Agricultural Development has prepared an action plan with the Directorate for effective and stringent monitoring.
However, the Ministry stated that it has not yet found pesticide levels exceeding the permissible limits on fruits and vegetables entering the Kathmandu Valley and sold in the local markets.
