By Rajan Raut
Simkot, Oct. 13: Apple farm of Padam Bahadur Lama, chairman of Simkot Gaunpalika, is eye-catching as the saying mustache does not block the mouth in eating. Chairman Lama started apple farming to increase his income along with the work of people as their representative.
Chairman Lama said that he had cultivated apples to increase his source of income even though he was involved in politics. He has been cultivating apples to break the belief that one should not engage in other business after joining politics.
He said that he had involved in apple cultivation seeing its potential in the district and chosen the land for apple cultivation as per the advice of the technicians.
Though apple trees in other places of Humla did not bear fruits, chairman Lama's farm has produced a lot of apples. Most of the 4,050 plants in the farm have borne fruits. He said that apples worth at least Rs.10,000 were produced in one plant. In Humla, apples cost Rs. 10 per fruit. His farm is estimated to produce apples worth Rs 4.5 million. Lama is taking responsibility of Gaunpalika’s work for the people and also takes care of the apples in his farm.
Five types of apples are grown in the apple farm of Lama in Bargaun of Simkot Gaunpalika Ward No. 3. He has also hired one worker to look after the apple farm.
Although the apple plants have borne plenty of fruits, he has not been able to estimate his income. He, however, is not worried that apples would not be sold this time. He has no problem in transporting his apples to the market as road access has reached his apple farm. Lama has started picking apples after they ripened.