Pesticide Testing Laboratory in Karnali Province Left Unused Due to Lack of Resources

The pesticide testing laboratory established in Harre of Bheriganga Municipality-4 to monitor pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables entering Karnali Province has remained non-functional. Despite its completion six years ago, the laboratory has not been utilized due to insufficient funding and a lack of necessary human resources.

Constructed at a cost of 7 million rupees by the Karnali Provincial Government, the laboratory building has not yet been equipped with essential tools and staff required for its operation. Senior agricultural economist Chitra Bahadur Rokaya, Chief of the Integrated Agricultural Laboratory of Karnali Province, expressed concerns over the prolonged inactivity of the facility, attributing it to inadequate budget allocation and staff shortages.

“The office has requested the concerned ministry to arrange the necessary budget and human resources, but it has not been fulfilled so far,” Rokaya stated.

The Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture, and Cooperatives of Karnali Province allocated only Rs 2.9 million for the laboratories in Harre and Kapurkot, Salyan, significantly lower than the Rs 6.5 million requested. This budget shortfall has hindered the purchase of essential laboratory equipment. Additionally, a request for at least six staff members for each laboratory remains unmet.

To address the issue, the Ministry is currently exploring the possibility of reallocating funds from other budget headings, according to the Ministry’s spokesperson, Dhan Bahadur Kathayat, an Agricultural Extension Officer.

The laboratory’s inactivity raises concerns about the unchecked pesticide levels in agricultural products entering Karnali Province, potentially impacting public health and food safety in the region.