Finance

Apple production in Mustang increased by 9 percent

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A farmer picks ripe apples at his garden in Kowang of Thasang Rural Municipality, Mustang district, on Monday, August 28, 2017. Photo Courtesy: RSS

Mustang (Rashtriya Samachar Samiti): Apple production has increased in Mustang this year. According to the Agriculture Knowledge Center, apple production in Mustang has increased by nine percent compared to last year.

Chief of the office, Prakash Bastakoti, said that Mustang produced 5,100 metric tonnes of apples last year and 5,564 metric tonnes of apples this year. According to him, apple production has increased by 9 percent compared to last year.

“Apple production has increased due to expansion of area and favorable weather,” he said.

Farmers have earned Rs. 550 million by selling apples produced in Mustang. Apples were sold at the rate of Rs 100 per kg.

Of the 1,440 hectares of land in Mustang where apples are cultivated, 520 hectares are planted this year. In the previous year, apple was cultivated in 1,400 hectares but 500 hectares of trees had borne fruit.

According to the Agriculture Knowledge Center Mustang, 572 hectares of land has been cultivated in Gharpajhong, 594 hectares in Baragung, 162 hectares in Thasang, 86 hectares in Loghekar Damodarkund and 29 hectares in Lomanthang.

According to the center, 898 metric tonnes of apples were produced in Thasang, 2,568 in Gharapzhong, 1,936 in Baragung Free Zone, 120 in Loghekar Damodarkund and 32 metric tonnes in Lomanthang.

This year, the production has increased due to proper orchard management and disease control by apple farmers in places other than Mustang. Eighty percent of the apples were taken out of the district on Dashain-Tihar.

Some of the remaining 20 percent of the unsold apples are kept in moist houses. Some apples are used in retail and apple processing.

Indigenous Red Delicious, Royal Delicious, Richard Delicious and White Golden Delicious apples are cultivated in Mustang. Lately, farmers have started planting fast and high-yielding high-density apple seedlings. Last year, 50,000 high-density apple seedlings were distributed.