The ´No Pesticide Use Week´ has begun in Nepal under the slogan "Save the Human Health and Environment: Eliminate Use of Highly Hazardous Pesticides."

Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture Development, Jay Mukunda Khanal, inaugurated the weekly program at a function organized by the Crop Conservation Directorate under the Ministry at Basantapur..

The weekly program will run till December 10.

He said that Rapid Pesticide Residue Unit set up at the Kalimati Vegetables and Fruits Market has a significant contribution in reducing the use of pesticide and added that such unit would be extended at other places of the country.

Program Director at the Directorate Dilliram Sharma expressed worry over increasing use of harmful pesticides in agro products and added that alternative of the pesticide should be searched by informing people about the impact of pesticides.  On the occasion, a parade, street drama and cultural programs were organized RSS reports.

Recalling the incident occurred in Bhupal, India, in 1984, where 20,000 people were killed and over 500,000 were injured due to pesticide leakage, the Pesticide Action Network International mark December 3 as the "No Pesticide Use Day" every year.