Apples from Satbanjh reach market

By Our Correspondent,Baitadi, Aug. 3: After eight years of drought, apples from Satbanjh have come to the market. Sales have started this year after the newly planted 300 apple trees of small-height varieties named Fuji and Gala started bearing fruit at the government-owned Satbanjh Dry Fruit Development Centre.

A horticulture centre was established in Satbanjh in 1962 with the plantation of 6,000 apple plants of the Golden Delicious variety in an area of 29 hectares. Due to climate change and other factors, apple production was stopped here for the past decade. Technician Arjun Khadka said that of the old 6,000 Golden Delicious apple trees, about 150 are left.

In order to protect the reputation of Satbanjh, Fuji and Gala species of apple are planted here. Khadka said that along with the new Fuji and Gala, old Golden Delicious plants have started bearing fruit after being irrigated.

He said that the Centre started selling apples after about eight years following the newly planted apple trees began to bear good fruit. By the second week of July, 1.5 quintals of apples have been sold.

Although the price of imported apples is Rs. 350 on average in the local markets in Baitadi, apples from Satbanjh are being sold at the rate of Rs. 80 per kg here.

 Bhagirath Awasthi, a local consumer, said that the apples from Satbanjh are sweeter and juicer than the apples of other varieties. About one and a half quintals of apples are still left to be picked at the centre. 

Irrigation brings change

Agricultural technicians said that when the land was irrigated by drawing water from deep boring, the soil has got the desired moisture needed for apple farming. According to the technicians, a high level of moisture is needed to grow Golden Delicious apple varieties.

It is said that after the office treated the plants with enough fertilisers and water to preserve the Golden Delicious variety of apples, the dying plants began bearing good fruits this year. 

Irrigation has been provided through deep boring at the initiative of the Ministry of Land Management and Agriculture of Sudurpaschim provincial government. 

A pond for irrigation has been constructed by drawing water from deep boring on a hill 2,300 metres above sea level. About 50,000 apple, walnuts and pear plants in the barren area have been watered by the water from the pond.

Technician Khadka said that after the decrease in apple production due to climate change, special priority has been given to nurseries including walnuts here. According to the office, the aim is to grow 20 quintals of apples at Satbanjh in the next two to four years.