Letters (Spotlight Weekly)

Poisonous Food

The cover story “Misuse or Overuse” (SPOTLIGHT March 19) showed how the trend of using excessive pesticides is growing in Nepal. This is not good indication. The concerned authorities must pay attention to this issue. Nepal is an overly agricultural country and our farmers must be made aware about the use of pesticides and insecticides so that our agro-products will be nutritious without being coated with residues of toxic pesticides.

Kiran Malla
Satdobato

Bring Down The Level

Efforts should be made to bring down the level of the use of pesticides (“Misuse or Overuse” SPOTLIGHT March 19). As Nepal has already become a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), it can expect to export its agro-products including fruits and vegetables. But, in a fiercely competitive world like today, any lacking in quality and standard could boomerang. If the use of pesticides in our country is in excess of international standard, other countries will find excuse to reject our exports. And this will be a tremendous blow to us. In order to avoid such problem in future, the authorities here must start to look into the real situation and find appropriate ways so that the use of pesticides remain within prescribed limits.

Pritam Rai
Manbhawan

Balance Is The Key

While it cannot be denied that the high level of pesticide residue in vegetables and fruits will have negative impact on human health; it should also be understood that because of the use of pesticides that many countries in the world, including Nepal, were able to increase their food yield (“Misuse of Overuse” SPOTLIGHT March 19). Because of alarmingly growing population, the traditional practices of agriculture had proved highly inadequate. Then came the pesticides, which helped in the increase of food yield and now the world is largely able to produce sufficient food to feed its six billion plus population. Even if we consider Nepal only, we have to agree that though belatedly, the Nepal Agriculture Research Council (NARC) is conducting researches. Therefore, it would be foolish to lay blame entirely on the use of pesticides without giving them due credit for increasing productivity. In fact, for a developing country like Nepal increasing productivity is very essential to reach food security. In many districts of the country, people have insufficient food. It is more important to address the issues of hunger than focus on issue of pesticide residue and so on.

Pradeep Bista
Bishalnagar

Ensure Food Safety

The cover story “Misuse or Overuse” (SPOTLIGHT March 19) exposed the weaknesses in our system. Due to the lack of knowledge our farmers might be using poisonous pesticides in excess quantities. The unbridled use of pesticides could be affecting our health. In fact, such pesticides could affect small children the most. There should be a comprehensive study on the impact of use of excess pesticides on human health.

Jitendra Sinkhada
Maharajgunj

Disturbing Trend

The increasing trend of involving minors in the armed conflict (“Alarming Trend” SPOTLIGHT March 12) is a very serious issue. The article also revealed that growing number of children were being affected by the insurgency. All of the conflicting sides must make a commitment not to use children in the war. They should cease involving children in any kind of activity other than education. Children are the future of the nation and they must be allowed to develop to their full potential. Nobody will benefit by hurting them.

Debesh Gurung
Chhetrapati

Bad Bandh

The article “Farmers’ Woes” (SPOTLIGHT March 12) rightly pointed out how farmers are suffering from the frequent bandhs. In absence of cold storage facilities, their fresh vegetables and fruits have to be discarded in huge volume if bandh is organized. The organizers of bandh must realize whom they are hurting. Since they claim that the bandh is for the rights of people, they will also have to take into account the hardships and sufferings of poor and deprived farmers.

Binaya Dhital
Chandol

Save Birds

The article titled “Vultures On The Wane” (SPOTLIGHT March 5) showed how the vultures are disappearing from this region. The authorities must take steps to ban the diclofenac, which is obviously causing the rapid decline of the birds. There must be alternatives to this veterinary medicine, which is safer and sustainable. In absence of vultures, city like Kathmandu will have to suffer more as they used to consume carcasses and help in maintaining the garbage.

Kabita Tamang
Jhamsikhel