KANCHANPUR: Banana farmers of Kanchanpur and Kailali districts today staged a demonstration in front of the main entrance to the Gaddachauki Customs Office, Kanchanpur, to protest free import of bananas from India.

They argued that bananas being imported from India without going through lab tests contained high pesticide residue and were inedible.

Bananas being supplied into the district from India contained pesticide residues higher than the set standard, they said.

A banana farmer Laxiram Acharya accused the Customs Office of allowing the entry of unhealthy bananas from India without conducting a lab test.

"Though we have invested millions of rupees in banana farming, free import of bananas from India has put our investment at risk," he said.

Banana farmers said they were determined to continue the protests against the irresponsible move of the Customs Office until their demand was addressed.