Snowfall rejoices Satbanjh orchard

By Gokarna Dayal,Baitadi, Jan. 26: Snowfall in Satbanjh after nearly six years has provided much-needed relief to around 70,000 plants at the Dry Fruit Development Centre. The orchard has approximately 70,000 plants, including walnut, olive, almond, apple, pear, bitter melon, hazelnut, apricot, peach, kiwi, and other varieties.

There had been no snowfall in the area for the past six years. Arjun Khadka, Chief of Dry Fruit Development Centre, said that the snowfall on Friday and Saturday nights brought tremendous relief. He said the centre has separate sections for winter fruit seedlings, grafted fruit orchards, seed gardens, nursery gardens and rootstock plants.

The Satbanjh area, located above Gurukhola in Dasharathchand Municipality–1, was once famous for its Red Delicious apples. After production of apples stopped thriving due to climate change and other reasons, new apple seedlings, including Fuji and Gala, have been planted on a trial basis to preserve Satbanjh’s identity.

The Satbanjh garden, established in 1962 (2019 BS), was once renowned for Red Delicious apples. However, production has declined in recent years, prompting the renaming of the facility as the Dry Fruit Development Centre. A nursery for winter fruit plants has now been established at the site.

Winter fruit seedlings are currently being produced across the Centre's 29-hectare area, which is fully owned by the government.

Office Chief Khadka said walnut seedlings produced at the Centre are being supplied to Bajhang in the Sudurpaschim and Karnali provinces.

The centre, which remains dry throughout the year, has been irrigated by drawing water from a depth of 105 metres through deep boring.

The deep boring project was implemented at the initiative of the Sudurpaschim Province Government, which lies at an altitude of 2,300 metres above sea level.  In recent years, deep-boring irrigation has helped sustain fruit production after snowfall became increasingly rare. The provincial government awarded a contract worth Rs. 4.6 

million for the project.

Water was drawn through a four-inch pipe from a depth of 105 metres through a borehole constructed by Asian Drill Company.