Myagdi. Farmers in Annapurna Rural Municipality of Myagdi have earned around Rs 40 million by selling oranges this year.

The Agriculture Development Section of Annapurna Rural Municipality has collected the details of oranges sold by farmers. According to Samjhana Khatri, a technician at the Agriculture Section, oranges worth Rs 38.8 million were sold from all orchards of the rural municipality.

He said that oranges worth Rs 7 million were sold at ward no 1 Dowa, Rs 3.9 million at ward no 2 Bhurung-Tatopani and Rs 2.1 million at ward no 3, Rs 1 million at ward no 4 Narchyang, Rs 6 million at ward no 6 and Rs 18.8 million at ward no 7.

More than 200 farmers have sold oranges worth Rs 50,000 to Rs 20 lakh. Bikash Shrestha, a farmer from Dosle, sold oranges worth Rs 20 lakh.

Farmers of Annapurna had started picking oranges and sending them to the market after the onset of January last year. The oranges were picked and sent to the market by February 14. Though the production was 40 per cent less than that of the last year, the income has increased due to double the price, said Shrestha.

Farmers in Dosalle have received Rs 200 per kg of oranges. Orange is the main cash crop of Annapurna Rural Municipality. After potato, orange is one of the most sold agricultural crops here. Annapurna Rural Municipality vice-chair Diwa Tilija Pun said that the farmers have been supported for the expansion and management of orange orchards.