Mustang begins early apple harvest, targets Teej festival market – The Himalayan Times – Nepal’s No.1 English Daily Newspaper

Key Takeaways:

• Early harvest allowed from Aug 31, late varieties from Sept 7
• Gala and Golden apples harvested in Thasang, Gharpajhong, Baragung Muktichhetra
• Farms target Teej market, with produce bound for Kathmandu
• Mustang produced Rs 900m worth of apples last year, 80% sent outside district

KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 1

Mustang’s apple season has begun with farmers harvesting early-maturing varieties ahead of Haritalika Teej, as traders step up efforts to bring the district’s produce to markets outside the region.

Harvesting of early varieties was formally allowed from Aug 31, while late-maturing apples can be harvested from Sept 7, according to the schedule agreed by local governments, agriculture officials, farmers and other stakeholders.

Agriculture and Livestock Development Office chief Dr Lalmani Aryal said harvesting of Gala and Golden varieties had begun in Thasang, Gharpajhong and Baragung Muktichhetra rural municipalities.

The early harvest is largely from high-density, hybrid orchards, which have attracted growing interest among Mustang farmers for their relatively quick production.

At farmer Bhim Gurung’s orchard, about three dozen workers have been deployed for harvesting, sorting, weighing, grading, packaging and loading the apples.

Manager Ram Tamang of Green Mukti Agriculture and Livestock Development Farm said apples grown on 40 ropanis of land were being harvested, with plans to transport the produce to Kathmandu within two days. The farm is targeting the Teej market, while traditional local varieties will be harvested later, Tamang said.

Not all orchards, however, are starting immediately. A farm in Dhumba, Gharpajhong-5, has postponed harvesting for a few days because the road to Kathmandu is currently disrupted.

The district-level schedule for apple harvesting was introduced to maintain the quality and market reputation of Mustang apples. Officials and farmers have stressed allowing the fruit to reach the market with adequate sweetness and at the appropriate stage of maturity.

The start of harvesting has also brought a seasonal influx of apple traders to Mustang. Traders often reach orchards before the harvest season and make advance arrangements with farmers before returning to collect and transport the produce.

Mustang produced more than Rs 900 million worth of apples last year, according to the Agriculture and Livestock Development Office. About 80 percent of the district’s apple production was sent outside Mustang, while the remaining 20 percent was consumed locally.

Apple farming currently covers about 1,400 hectares in the district, with farmers increasingly shifting towards high-density hybrid varieties alongside traditional local apples.