KATHMANDU: Tomato farmers staged a protest at Maitighar Mandala in Kathmandu on Wednesday by dumping tomatoes on the road, expressing dissatisfaction with the government’s agricultural policies.
The farmers accused the government of failing to provide adequate subsidies, ensure fair prices for agricultural products, and create a reliable market for local producers. They said import-focused policies have further affected domestic farmers.
During the protest, farmers said they have been unable to sell their tomato production and are struggling to recover even their production costs. They accused the government of ignoring their concerns and failing to address the challenges faced by farmers.
As a symbolic protest, they threw tomatoes onto the road and expressed their dissatisfaction with the state of the agriculture sector.
The protesting farmers demanded the immediate implementation of a minimum support price for agricultural products, increased subsidies, easy availability of fertilisers and seeds, better market management, and policies that prioritise domestic production.
They also said Nepali farmers are unable to compete due to cheaper imported vegetables flooding the market.
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