Kathmandu, April 30: Agro-vet entrepreneurs in Bardiya have raised concerns over growing difficulties in managing expired pesticides, blaming companies and dealers for refusing to take back unsold stock.
The issue surfaced during an orientation programme organised by the Bardiya District Health Office in Gulariya, where agro-vet operators and farmers highlighted the risks of improper storage and disposal. Since expired pesticides cannot be discarded arbitrarily due to safety and legal restrictions, dealers say they are left with limited options.
Some operators admitted that pesticides nearing expiry are occasionally distributed free of cost to farmers, who then use them despite potential risks. Farmers reported being told such products remain effective even after expiration.
Entrepreneurs like Ram Prasad Acharya of Acharya Agrovet and Arun Tamang of SK Agrovet said companies clearly state that only saleable quantities should be purchased and that returns will not be accepted. This has made stock management increasingly difficult, with prolonged storage posing potential health hazards.
According to the Pesticide Management Act, 2019, companies are required to arrange proper management of pesticides at least one month before expiry and ensure their return through importers. However, agro-vet operators say the lack of government storage facilities has hindered implementation of this provision.
Eliza Shrestha, a senior crop protection officer at the Crop Protection Laboratory in Khajura, warned that distributing expired pesticides is illegal and could lead to penalties. She stressed that responsibility for safe management ultimately lies with the concerned companies and businesses. #Nepal
