Mustang farmers earn more than Rs 920 million thru apples

MYAGDI, OCTOBER 24: In Mustang, the highest apple production has been recorded this year. Mustang farmers have generated over Rs 920 million by exporting applies

According to the Agricultural Knowledge Center in Mustang, approximately 7,330 metric tons of this kind of fruit have been produced this year. Rajesh Gurung, head of the Agricultural Knowledge Center, stated, “This year, Mustang has seen the highest apple production to date. Preliminary assessments indicate that we have exported apples worth around Rs 920 million this year, although complete statistics are still pending. The favourable weather during the flowering and fruit-setting phases has contributed to increased production, greatly benefiting the farmers.”

Compared to previous years, the Agriculture Development Directorate of Gandaki Province has reported a 35 percent increase in apple production this year. Last year, Mustang produced 5,596 metric tons of apples, while this year’s production has surpassed last year’s by 734 tons, according to the directorate. Last year, apples worth Rs 547.2 million were exported, whereas this year’s income has increased by around Rs 290 million compared to last year, Gurung added.

Additionally, statistics from the Agriculture Development Directorate of Gandaki Province show that local apple varieties produced 6,078 metric tons in Mustang. Local varieties were planted over a total area of 830 hectares, with production occurring on 566 hectares. This year, traders have offered an average purchase price of Rs 110 per kilogram to farmers, resulting in a total value of Rs 668.672 million.

Local apple varieties have been exported at Rs 110 per kilogram, while hybrid apples have been exported at Rs 200 per kilogram, bringing in approximately Rs 830 million for Mustang, according to Gurung.

Basudev Regmi, the director-general of the Agriculture Development Directorate of Gandaki, estimated that apples worth around Rs 601.8 million of local varieties will be consumed and exported this year, with sales exceeding the estimate by Rs 60 million.

He noted that the production of imported high-density apples is improving compared to local varieties in Mustang. The potential for commercial apple production is strengthening as some farmers have planted foreign apple varieties, yielding large quantities in a short time.

Currently, only 60 hectares of land is dedicated to high-density apple varieties in Mustang, with trees in 50 hectares already starting to yield. From that area, 1,250 metric tons of apples have been produced, with an average selling price of Rs 200 per kilogram, resulting in a total value of Rs 250 million.

Of the total production, 10 percent is consumed and stored within the district, while the remaining 90 percent is stored and exported to locations such as Myagdi, Baglung, Parbat, Pokhara, Narayan Ghat, and Kathmandu, according to the directorate.

In Mustang, apple cultivation has expanded over 1,415 hectares, with apples being produced from trees planted on 585 hectares, as reported by the Agricultural Knowledge Center in Mustang. Here, 80 percent of the cultivation consists of local apple varieties, while 20 percent consists of hybrid apples.