Farmers earn Rs 10 million a year selling apples

By Sher Bahadur Sarki, Bajura, Sept.20: Farmers of Swamikartik Khapar Rural Municipality, which is located in the eastern north region of the district, have earned more than Rs 10 million by selling apples this year. 

Out of the 2,400 households in the Swamikartik Khapar Rural Municipality, 1,800 households have earned more than Rs 10 million by selling apples this year. 

Uttam Shahi, a farmer of Swamikartik Khapar Rural Municipality, said that since the apples were sold timely, there was better income at home than last year.

He said, "Last year, we had to take the apples to the market and sell them. This year, after the traders came to the apple orchard and picked everything from the field itself yielding good income."

This year, 80 per cent of apples produced have already been sold and only 20 per cent of apples are left.

Earlier, because of the lack of market apples were fed to the domestic animals. 

Recently, the organic apples produced here have started to get the market after the rural municipality has been taking initiatives to market them in different parts of the country. 

Apples flourish well in various places including Jewale, Saideo Khunka, Loki, and Joru of Swamikartik Khapar Rural Municipality. 

Apples were kept at the orchid farm hoping the traffic on Kolti-Martdai road to open but the contractor took it to a different market outside the district through Karnali Corridor. 

Last year, the apples produced in Bajura were taken to Kathmandu for sale through Achham, Doti, Dadeldhura, and Kailali, but this year, since the Martadi-Koti road has been blocked for a long time, they have been taken to Kailali, Nepalgunj, and Kathmandu through the Karnali corridor.

"Almost 80 per cent of the apples produced during Swamikartik have been sold. Farmers have earned around Rs 8 million from the sale of apples and more than 25 million more apples have been deposited in the cellar store," said Binod Shahi, head of the agricultural branch. 

He said, "Twenty-five tons of apples have been picked from the orchard and kept in the cellar store. In a few days, there is a plan to take the remaining apples to different cities of the country for sale."

Binod Shahi, head of the agricultural branch, said that farmers here who suffered loss because of lack of market last year, realized more than Rs 10 million at their doorsteps this year. 

Chairman of the Swamikartik Khapar Rural Municipality Bharat Rokaya said that it was proved that the soil is very suitable for apple cultivation after calling agricultural experts here to test the soil and that encouraged farmers to engage more in apple cultivation. 

He said, " There is a provision of municipality finding a market all over the nation and transporting there to optimize the sell."