Tanka Raj Giri from Guthichaur rural municipality in Jumla entered the herbal business in 1995. But after over 25 years, he is currently active in the commercial cultivation of Fuji apples. Happy with the change, he how this transition has helped him financially.
“There are 14,000 apple plants in my orchard. This year alone I have sold apples worth Rs 6.5 million,” he says. “These apples are high in demand in Kathmandu.”
According to Giri, the apples that are priced at Rs 200 per kilogram in the orchard, are being sold in Kathmandu between Rs 300 to Rs 350, depending on both type and quality. He mentioned that Gala apples also command good prices in the market.
Having invested a substantial amount 18 months ago, Giri is beyond pleased that he has been able to recoup the money and even reaped in a little profit. This year, he harvested about 360 quintals (36 tonnes) of apples in his orchard—of which 70 per cent have been sold, and 30 per cent are still in cold storage.
Nirasa Bhandari of Chandannath Municipality-3 in Jumla is another successful apple farmer. Bhandari, who has 500 fruiting plants in her orchard, is pleased that traders have come to the orchard to purchase apples.
“This year, I sold apples worth Rs 550,000 from my orchard. What was encouraging is I did not have to go looking for people to buy them,” says Bhandari.
Mahendra Karki of Chandannath Municipality 5 in Jumla has been cultivating commercial apples through his farm. Reflecting on the experience of selling 10 apple seeds for Rs 1, Karki said that local apple varieties are still being sold at up to Rs 70 per kilogram in orchards.
This surge in apple sales has also attracted the youth who have seen how much profit they can make if they put in two to three years of hard work.
“I earned Rs 900,000 from apple farming this year. If we do it right, we can make up to a million every year through apple sales,” says Karki.
This story isn’t solely about them; presently, every farmer has planted about 20 to 1000 plants at home. Despite other crops being abandoned, the practice of prioritising apple cultivation persists.
Growing your own
According to Khem Raj Shahi, an agriculture officer at the Jumla District Agriculture Development Office (ADO) stated that apple farming in the area began in 1967 after it became possible to bring apple plants from Kashmir in India to Jumla. This was facilitated by the Fruit Development Directorate.
Representing Apple Superzone Jumla, Shahi said that about 15,000 metric tonnes of apples have been produced in Jumla this year. Out of this, 10,000 metric tonnes have been sent out, and Jumla has earned Rs 500 million this year alone.
“Currently, apples are being cultivated in 4,299 hectares in Jumla. In which 4,250 hectares of land are apple orchards of local Royal Delicacies, Red Delicacies, and Golden Delicacies varieties. In the remaining 49 hectares, Italian Fuji and Gala apple plants are being expanded,” he said.
According to Shahi, there is a possibility that apple plantations can be expanded in an area of 12,000 hectares in Jumla and has called on the government to facilitate this. Despite the yield being low compared to earlier years, the apples from Jumla got a better price as apples from India arrived late.
What the locals now want is more people to be involved in apple farming which they believe can stop people from going abroad for foreign employment.
Giri states that he started commercial farming because he believed that unemployed youths could be employed on vacant land and contribute to their own country. Currently, 16 people are working on a contractual basis in Giri’s orchard with nearly 200 working for him during picking season.
Nirasha Bhandari, who is also a student of crop science, has been working in the apple orchard set up by her father. She said that she started working on her agricultural farm after completing her education to demonstrate that achievements are possible in Nepal. Meanwhile, she is supporting her brother to pursue a career as an engineer with the income from apple sales.
According to Magi Chaulagain, 78, many apples were rotting in the orchards earlier; they had to be fed to the cattle. However, this year, that was not the case as, earlier this year, they were able to sell apples at Rs 60 to 70 per kg in the orchard. If the market price remains the same in the coming year, the farmers who have grown apples will not have to go far to earn money.
Focus on quality
Giri has invested Rs 70 million and registered the company, Shree Himali T and N Agro Farm, where he grows commercial apples.
“Jumla is the capital of apples. I am also engaged in this business to establish Jumla’s reputation as the capital of apples,” he says.
His objective is to plant 55,000 saplings and every year he has been planting new ones. The aim is to increase the number of plants in the orchard by 1,000 this year and 10,000 subsequently.
“Now I am growing apples in 22 hectares. Let’s see what happens in the future,” he says.
Giri, who planted 300 seedlings of local apples of Royal, Red, and Golden Delices varieties, recognising the benefits of Fuji varieties, acquired and planted 900 such seedlings from Apple Superzone among others. Meanwhile, explaining the necessity of subsidies for plants, he says, “For instance, Italian Fuji apples should be acquired at Rs 850 per plant. Whereas, the price of that plant until it reaches Jumla is over Rs 1,000.”
Bhandari points out that although other farmers have planted the developed Fuji apples, they have been cultivating local red, royal, and golden delicious apple varieties. He emphasises that to achieve a comparable price to the developed varieties of apples, there should be a focus on the quality production of local apple varieties.
They have begun prioritising bean cultivation alongside apples. “Planting beans in the apple farm, doubles the benefits, as apples and beans command good prices in the market,” she says.
According to data from the office of Apple Superzone Jumla, 70 per cent of the local apple production is exported outside Jumla. Additionally, 5,000 metric tonnes of apples have been consumed locally, wasted, or damaged during picking.
According to ADO Shahi, earlier there were problems such as rotting and staining, but now the damage has started to decrease due to ‘grading’ and ‘packaging’ in the apple orchards. Farmers are getting the price of their produce according to the grade on the farm.
“If you harvest apples only after they have fully matured and pay attention to grading and packaging accordingly, you can yield good returns from the apples. This is what we have learned from our own experience,” says Bhandari
Similarly, another reason why the farmers of Jumla are getting good prices this time is the rural agricultural roads here, making it easy for the farmers to reach their produce to the market and traders to reach the farmers’ houses. According to Shahi, “The farmer has suffered less damage since the vehicle reached the farmer’s apple orchard.”
Nevertheless, Karki feels that the government would have supported him now that the farmers themselves are compelled to become traders as well. He says, “This year alone, our apples have reached Jhapa, Itahari, and Biratnagar in the east through cooperatives. It would have been easier if the government had supported it.”
Challenges to address
According to Giri, although the initial years were somewhat challenging, the work is becoming easier now. Despite the presence of agricultural products, there is an issue with getting a proper market. He believes that the government should have paid attention to this.
Karki says it is challenging for apples to last even three months in the market. The demand in the market is on the rise, but the production is low. Therefore, if the farmers are to increase production, the government should assist them in finding the market.
According to the farmers of Jumla, there is still a need for government investment to have a cold store with facilities and electricity up to that point. Experts believe that apples of Jumla can compete with the apples of India and China if they can store the produced apples in four locations of Jumla and store the apples according to the demand.
Similarly, farmers in this region would be more inclined towards apple cultivation if subsidies for seedlings could be arranged, says Giri.
Karki mentions that following the government’s imposition of a 13 per cent tax on imported apples, apple farmers in Jumla are optimistic this year. It is possible to obtain good benefits from apples, walnuts, and potatoes. To achieve the maximum benefit from apples, attention should be given to grading and packaging, as stated by Karki.
He emphasised, “Farmers must consider planting high-quality saplings to ensure a return on their investment.” As apples are part of the fruits that can be consumed throughout the year, we must prioritise quality products.
Around Chaulagain’s orchard, other farmers also possess apple orchards, yet they lack irrigation. She stated, “I have to stroll for an hour and fetch water to irrigate the orchard. We need the government’s assistance in this.”
Government’s efforts
The government has been providing training to farmers in orchard management to cultivate high-quality apples. It has offered a 50 per cent subsidy on fertilisers and plants. Farmers are also being urged to ensure their apples to minimise potential damage. Research is underway to develop new varieties of apples.
The Horticultural Research Station, Rajikot, the Agricultural Development Office, and the Apple Superzone in Jumla have been collaborating with each local level here. Programmes facilitating the exchange of experiences, and enabling the acquisition of good knowledge and skills in apple farming, have been regularly conducted.
However, there are also tasks that the government has not been able to accomplish. Farmers have not been able to focus on producing high-quality products. The grading and packaging of apples have not yet received sufficient attention everywhere.
Nepal’s production of Jumla, Manang, and Mustang currently satisfies only 8 to 10 per cent of the market demand. The remaining portion is still dominated by foreign apples. The government should prioritise the marketing of local products.
ADO Shahi here also mentions that due to the favourable environment for apples in Jumla, farmers are earning as much as possible. The potential is good, but there is a lack of budget for investment. Shahi adds, “In addition to promoting production, the state should take charge of the market, and create opportunities.”
The state’s investment in apple cultivation is insufficient. Jumla’s apple cultivation is primarily on arid land, posing an irrigation challenge. Farmers should be encouraged to arrange water for irrigation through lifts. According to local farmers, there are also issues with managing diseases and insects.
Jumla has been declared an organic district by the government, but systematic work for fertilisers and pesticides has not been carried out accordingly. According to experts, the government needs to establish factories accordingly. The budget should be organised based on accessibility and remoteness. Special attention should be given to production, storage, and marketing.
In addition to this, another action the government can take is investing in electricity to aid irrigation through elevators in plants. Concessions on electricity can be granted. Stakeholders believe if this is done, Jumla’s apples can compete in the international market.
