Farmers of Takshera, Hukam, Maikot, Jang and Sisne in eastern part of the district have even started using apples as feed for their cattle after their prized produce started rotting.[break]
Dharma Prashad Budha of Takshera said they have not been able to take the apples to market because of geographical difficulties. “We started commercial farming of apples after quitting farming of traditional crops. But we have not been able to find market for our produce,” Budha lamented. “We are facing difficulty in taking apples to district headquarters Khalanga.”
Local schools have started distributing apples to students after buying them from farmers in cheaper price.
While the apples in remote villages are rotting, traders in Khalanga are buying apples from farmers in Dolpa, Mustang, Manang and even India. It is easier for traders to bring apples from these districts than from remote villages in Rukum.
Some villagers have also started preparing liquor from apple to prevent them from rotting.
According to District Agriculture Development Office, Rukum, the eastern part of the district holds good potential for apple farming because of favorable climatic condition.
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