Pesticide testing centre non-operational seven years after establishment in Malunga

BY RADHA KRISHNA DUMRE,Waling, Sept. 7: The Pesticide Testing Centre established seven years ago in Malunga of Galyang Municipality-1 has not come into operation yet. 

The centre was set up at the border of Gandaki Province to test the pesticide levels in agricultural produce and fruits entering the province. 

Galyang Municipality Mayor Guru Prasad Bhattarai said that due to a lack of staff, the centre remained non-functional for the past seven years. Despite continuous efforts since the local-level election, the centre remains non-operational. Although it falls under the provincial government, the municipality has been providing as much support and coordination as possible, he said.

Mani Prasad Basyal, Ward Chair of Ward No. 1, said that although the centre was equipped with modern tools, it has not been used due to the absence of staff. He said, “The lab has the necessary tools to collect samples, label them, determine the percentage of pesticides and check the quality. Various types of equipment are deteriorating as the centre remains inactive.” 

Mayor Bhattarai said that the municipality had repeatedly requested both the provincial and federal governments to operate the laboratory regularly. He said, “We keep hearing news about various diseases caused by pesticides, yet we have not been able to operate the testing centre that we already have.” 

Despite continuous pressure, the province has only assigned one permanent employee, he added.

Binod Hamal, the head of the Agricultural Knowledge Centre Syangja, said efforts to operate the lab had not succeeded. He said, “Most of the vegetables and fruits entering Gandaki Province pass through this point. Since the road from the Indian border is a short route connecting the province, goods are transported along this route.”

Hamal said that since the testing centre was under the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Management of Gandaki Province, they did not have the authority to regulate and monitor it.

Shree Prasad GT, coordinator of the coordination committee formed to operate the centre and head of the District Coordination Committee, said efforts were underway to bring the centre into operation. 

The laboratory was built at a cost of Rs. 10 million, with Rs. 8 million from the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation and Rs. 2 million from the Gandaki Province Government. The then Chief Minister of Gandaki Province, Prithvi Subba Gurung, inaugurated the centre in 2018.