Farmers of Jyamire in eastern Chitwan, a key vegetable production area in the district, threw their agricultural produces to draw the attention of concerned authorities toward the loss that they have been facing. [break]
The farmers have not been able to take fruits and vegetables to the market due to indefinite strike called by the Maoists.
They also demanded UCPN (Maoist) to allow them take vegetables to the market like milk containers.
“Farmers of Jyamire threw around 40 tons of different vegetables on the highway to protest Maoist strike,” Mukesh Pandey, a local farmer, told Republica.
The farmers threw the vegetables collected through collection centers at Chainpur and Jyamire. The collection centers were about to send vegetables to different markets in the country, including Kathmandu Valley.
“We three cow pea, bitter gourd and lady´s fingers on the highway as a symbolic protest against any forms of protest that bar farmers from selling their produces,” another farmer said.
The farmers said they are suffering a loss of about one million rupees a day.
“Vegetables are decaying in farms as we have failed to take them to market. We haven´t been able to take vegetables even to nearby markets and collection centers,” they added.
Farmers from Chainpur, Khairahani, Bhandara, Ratanagar and Jyamire also picketed District Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Association on Monday, demanding unhindered supplies of vegetables. The farmers have already appealed to the banda organizers and local administration to ensure smooth movement of vehicles carrying vegetables.
Basanta Raj Gautam, chief district officer of Chitwan, said it was not possible to escort vehicles ferrying vegetables to Kathmandu due to limited security forces.
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