Transport challenges hamper apple sales in Karnali

KANKREBIHAR, SURKHET: Farmers in the Himalayan districts of Karnali Province are struggling to secure adequate returns on their livestock and apple farming due to severe transport challenges.

Despite the government’s claims to link all districts to the national road network, reliable road access to ferry produce from distant hills to the highways remains scarce.

Each monsoon season, the Karnali Corridor — a major lifeline connecting the Upper Karnali to the southern plains and beyond — is disrupted, causing fruit to rot before it reaches market. Farmers in Jumla, Mugu and Humla suffer annual losses, with apples decaying even in the orchard.

In Jumla, apple production dropped this year compared with last year, primarily owing to hailstorms, rain and drought.

According to Ram Bhakta Adhikari, Head of the Agriculture Development Office in Jumla, apples are examined for quality and sweetness before being supplied to the market. He said the office has started gathering data on apple production, exports and income, and suppliers have begun purchasing apples directly from the orchards. Farmers are selling apples at Rs 70 per kilogramme straight from their groves.

Nevertheless, farmers now set their own prices; in previous years, the office set the rate for apples.

Under the Prime Minister’s Agriculture Modernisation Project, the Apple Super Zone has distributed 11,000 cartons to farmers, who are using them to transport and sell their fruit. Jumla apples are reaching cities including Surkhet, Nepalgunj, Butwal, Chitwan and Kathmandu.

This year, only 2,900 hectares have been used for apple production in the district, despite 4,400 hectares being dedicated to cultivation.

“Though apple farming is a potential source of good income for farmers here, transport issues remain a major problem,” Adhikari said. Varieties produced in the district include Red, Royal, Jonathan, Golden, Gala, Fuji and Jonaprince.

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