Karnali to expand apple cultivation area

By Our Correspondent ,Surkhet, Jan. 7: The Karnali Provincial government plans to enlarge the cultivation area to increase apple and walnut yields.

This year, the provincial government has prioritised the fruit area expansion programme.

The provincial government has advanced this plan as per the policy and programme and budget of the current fiscal year. But, this programmes is not new and the government has been implementing this programme in previous fiscal years as well. 

The Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives said that the programme is being implemented in seven districts this year. 

The apple and walnut area expansion programme is going to be implemented in five districts of the then Karnali, including Dailekh and Rukum West, said Dhan Bahadur Kathayat, spokesperson at the Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperative of Karnali Provincial government. 

The programme will be implemented through the District Agricultural Development Office. 

He said that a budget of about Rs. 1 million has been allocated to each district.

The apple-walnut development project is being operated in five districts of the then Karnali. The provincial government said that the area for walnut production is also being expanded to Dailekh and Rukum West. 

In recent years, farmers have been attracted to fruit farming rather than cereal crops. 

Kathayat said that the programme is being implemented to utilise barren land and commercialize fruit farming.  

Farmers will directly benefit from this programme and support the country to reduce the import of apple and walnuts, he said. 

The programme is being implemented in Kalikot, Jumla, Dolpa, Humla, Mugu, Dailekh and Rukum West of the then Karnali.

“Municipalities will be selected for the project based on a feasibility study in coming years. Technicians will study whether the location is suitable for fruit production or not,” he said. 

Last year, a budget of Rs. 50 million was allocated for the implementation of the programme.

Apple cultivation is preferred in the mountainous districts of Karnali and orange cultivation in the hilly areas. 

The ministry said that the area of fruit cultivation has increased in the province compared to the past. 

Farmers are attracted to this sector due to the ease of access to the market, profitability and various government subsidy programmes for fruit cultivation, he said. 

The 'NAFA Project' is being implemented in Karnali in partnership with the federal government and the provincial government. 

The ministry has advanced the programme to increase the practice of commercialising fruit cultivation by investing heavily in apple and orange cultivation.

The NAFA Project will also motivate farmers to cultivate fruits. Kathayat said that the programme is being implemented in partnership.