Satellite apple farm established in Mustang

By Harikrishna Sharma,Mustang, Nov. 13: A satellite farm of the Temperate Horticulture Development Centre has been established in Ghami, Ward No. 2 of Lo-Ghekar Damodarkunda Rural Municipality, Upper Mustang. 

The farm was set up after securing the necessary land, as fruit farming -- especially apples -- has been rapidly expanding in the area due to changing climatic conditions.

According to Padmanath Atreya, Head of the Centre, a total of 801 ropani and one ana of land has been registered under the Centre to facilitate fruit farming in Upper Mustang. 

“Apple cultivation in the upper region will now expand rapidly. Because of climate change, fruit farming has been shifting to higher altitudes,” he said.

The land for the centre was arranged with support from the rural municipality, in accordance with the Government Land Registration, Utilisation and Lease Policy 2079 (2022). 

The farm will prioritise apple farming and will cultivate more than 35 varieties of apples, along with other temperate fruits such as walnuts, almonds, peaches, plums, apricots, sweet cherries and grapes.

As fruit farming begins to thrive in the higher region due to climate change, the centre established the satellite farm after years of efforts. The difference of nearly one-and-a-half months between the planting and harvesting times in the upper and lower Mustang allows Nepali consumers to enjoy fresh apples even from November to January (Mangsir to Poush).

Chairperson of Lo-Ghekar Damodarkunda Rural Municipality, Lopsang Chhompel Bista, said the farm will also provide technical support to local farmers. “After the establishment of this satellite farm, there will no longer be a lack of technical assistance to expand fruit farming on unused land. We have also requested the government to provide sufficient human resources,” he said.

About 30 years ago, apple trees were common in Ghasa, Thasang Rural Municipality in lower Mustang, but now they are rare. Considering the changing climate and its potential impact, the centre has prioritised expanding apple farming to higher regions, Atreya said.

The rural municipality has been encouraging locals to take up farming by providing machinery, equipment and various subsidies. At present, locals in Ghami village have cultivated apples on around 950 ropanis of land.

Forty-three households are engaged in apple farming, both collectively and individually, and after successful trials, apple cultivation is expanding rapidly.

Similarly, 26 households in Dhye village-2 of Surkhang, have cultivated apples on 1,200 ropanis of land. These families relocated from Thamjung after water sources in their previous settlement dried up. Dhye village lies at an altitude of about 4,000 metres above sea level. Apple farming is also being carried out in Tangbe, Yara, and Ghara areas of Upper Mustang.

Lo-Ghekar Damodarkunda and Lomanthang have given priority to apple farming by providing seedlings, equipment, and training to farmers.

In lower Mustang, particularly in Thasang, Gharpajhong and Baragung Muktichhetra-the effects of climate change have already been observed on apples and other fruits. Currently, apple farming in Mustang takes place between altitudes of 2,600 and 3,600 metres above sea level.

Despite the potential for expansion, hundreds of hectares of land in the region remain fallow due to irrigation and other challenges. The rural municipalities of The Temperate Horticulture Development Centre, established in Marpha in 1966, has four blocks with 35 apple varieties. 

According to the Agriculture Knowledge Centre, Mustang, apple sales this year reached Rs. 1.10 billion, with apples grown on a total area of 892 hectares -- 832 hectares under local varieties such as Royal, Red, Richared, Golden and Fuji, and 60 hectares under high-density hybrid farming.