‘Pesticide-free’ vegetable collection center in Paanchkhal

Kavrepalanchok, June 22: An agricultural produce collection and market center has been established in Paanchkhal Municipality to collect pesticide-free vegetables. 

The center has been established to collect vegetables produced using only organic pesticides instead of chemical pesticides. An organization called Lovegreen Nepal and Paanchkhal Municipality have forged a partnership for the same with an investment of Rs. 2.5 million and Rs. 900,000 respectively.

Paanchkhal Mayor Mahesh Kharel said the center has been brought into operation to collect vegetables produced using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) technology. We have set a target to supply agricultural produce collected at the center to the capital Kathmandu after sorting, packaging and branding them.

The center was jointly inaugurated by Mayor Kharel, Head of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Nepal, Matsuzaki Mizuki  and Lovegreen Nepal President Amira Dali on Saturday. 

The municipality is currently promoting organic farming under the campaign to create 'Pesticide-Free Panchkhal'. The campaign has been supported since the past four years by the Environment-Friendly Integrated Sustainable Agriculture Development Project jointly run by the Municipal Office and Lovegreen Nepal. (RSS)