Mustang's apples head to market after Beni-Jomsom road reopens

After the Beni-Jomsom road, closed for 15 days due to floods and river erosion, reopened, farmers in Mustang have begun sending apples that had been stuck in orchards to market.

Floods following rain from Asoj 8 to 11 had damaged about 46 locations along the Beni-Jomsom-Korala road. Apples that normally reach the market nearly three weeks before Dashain each year were left on the trees this time.

Apple picking began on Thursday in orchards in Thasang, Gharpajhong and Baragung Muktichhetra. Although a picking schedule had set Bhadra 14 for the Red Delicious variety and Bhadra 22 for the local variety, most of the fruit remained on the trees apart from what was sold during Teej, after the road was blocked.

Nirmal Tulachan, a farmer from Tukuche, said the road was blocked just as he was about to pick the local variety after already selling Gala, King Road and Golden varieties from about 55 ropani of land. Angya Gurung of Baragung Muktichhetra-4 sent three truckloads of apples to Kathmandu on Friday and Saturday. He said that although the cold weather delayed the harvest, it did not affect quality.

About a hundred farmers are preparing to send their remaining apples to market by Phulpati. Farmers say the local apple variety is selling for around Rs 180 per kg at the orchard. Dr. Lalmani Aryal, chief of the Agriculture and Livestock Development Office, said a technical team's inspection found no problem with the apples.