Jumla. Around 4,725 metric tonnes apples have been supplied to other districts from Jumla for sale. According to the Agriculture Development Office, Jumla, apples were sold in the same quantity from mid-July to mid-September of the current fiscal year.

Apples and Fuji apples from rural areas are still being sent to other districts for sale. Agriculture Development Office, Jumla chief Ram Bhakta Adhikari said the data would be ascertained whether apples were sold until the first week of December.

Apple production is expected to decrease this year compared to last year. The office chief Adhikari said, “Apples worth about Rs 33 crore 7 lakh 50 thousand have been sent to other districts for sale.” Lately, the attraction of farmers towards apple farming has increased. ’

Of the total 24,838 households in eight local levels of the district, 19,258 households or 70.5 per cent are involved in apple farming. Apple farmers in Tila Rural Municipality sold their apples in the third week of August, said apple trader Padam Rawat. Most of the farmers here have apple orchards. Each family earns an income by selling apples ranging from Rs 45,000 to Rs 100,000 in a season. According to Rawat, a local apple trader at Tila Rural Municipality-1, apple was sold at Rs 75 per kg.

13,000 metric tons of apples produced

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According to the District Agriculture Development Office, 13,000 metric tons apples are expected to be produced in Jumla this year. This is the lowest production in the last two years.

Of the total produced, 70,000 metric tons of apples have already been sold. Jumla has total cultivable land of 39,435 hectares. Among them, apple was cultivated in 2,125 hectares of land in the fiscal year 2081/82 BS which increased to 4,445 hectares in the current fiscal year.

The apple varieties produced in the district are Red Delicious, Royaldecius, Golden Delicious, Richard, and Jandhan. Among the improved varieties produced at present, apples of Fuji Gala (Italian variety) are being cultivated.

According to the Agriculture Development Office, a study is underway for the apple farming of Star Kimson Delicious, Bite N Early and Stark Spur Golden varieties recommended by the Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC).