Nar Bahadur Hirachan of Marpha VDC-3, one of the apple farmers, earned Rs 4.2 million by selling the fruit. "So far this year I have sold apples worth Rs 4.2 million, which is far more than my expectation,” said Hirachan. "As for the remaining apples, I will use them to make local wine and dried apple crumbles,” he added.
Karma Gurung, another apple farmer from the same village, has also made similar profit. Selling tons of apples from over 150 apple trees, Gurung has earned over Rs 10 million.
According to Mustang District Agriculture Development Office (DADO), apple production and sales have improved in Mustang this year.
Despite snowfall and bad weather, most apple farmers have made good harvest this year.
According to Indra Bahadur Tulachan, an apple farmer of Tukuche VDC, he made Rs 1.8 million by selling apples.
A crop conservation officer at DADO, Surya Bogati said 110 farmers in Tukuche VDC have earned Rs 30 million by selling apples.
In Mustang, apples are sold at a price range of Rs 65 to Rs 80 per kilogram.
However, Bogati revealed that apple production has declined this year compared to the last. "Compared to previous years, apple production has fallen but the sales has been better, which is a huge motivation for the farmers,” said Bogati.
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