By Our Reporter
The vegetable farmers protested against the government after they failed to get a market for their produce because of the import of vegetables from India.
A few days ago, the farmers in Chitwan spilt vegetables on the road protesting the government policy to allow to import of vegetables from India.
Indian vegetables heavily laden with pesticides are cheaper than local products, and when they are allowed to enter the local markets, people prefer cheaper vegetables and buy them leaving healthy local products. This has irked the farmers, which was exposed in Chitwan with farmers throwing vegetables on the highway.
The government in Nepal has been unable to give protection to the local products. Vegetables are only one example. Farmers growing bananas have been facing the same problem when Indian bananas freely enter the local market. Although the government has imposed a ban on the import of chicken and eggs, it has not taken similar measures to protect local vegetable farmers. If the government restricts the import of vegetables which Nepal has become self-reliant on, the farmers will not have to throw the vegetables in the market.
Similarly, the orange farmers in Rukum are unable to sell their fruit, but the Indian and Chines oranges have dominated the markets in Kathmandu. If the government gives subsidies in the transportation of oranges, both the farmers and consumers will benefit. But the government has no time to think about such plans.
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