Mustang. In the Himalayan district of Mustang, it is estimated that apples worth 1 billion 1496 million rupees have been produced this year. According to the Agriculture and Livestock Development Office, preliminary information has been collected that apples equal to the said value have been produced in a total area of 662 hectares in five local levels of the district.
According to Dr Lalmani Aryal, Head of Agriculture and Animal Development, this year, high density technology based (hybrid) apples have been produced worth 236 million rupees and traditional local apples worth 919 million 91 thousand rupees. This year, seven thousand 38.54 metric tons of apples have been produced in Mustang, including hybrid and local varieties.
According to Chief Dr. Aryal, 959.62 metric tons of hybrid apples and six thousand 78.92 metric tons of local traditional apples have been produced. According to Dr. Aryal, head of the office, the average yield of apples was measured according to the crop cutting method by the agricultural technicians after reaching the apple garden. Apart from this, he informed that the local level agricultural technicians and apple farmers have been coordinated to estimate the quantity of apple production.
It is said that apples worth 94 million 80 lakh 92 thousand rupees will be exported outside the district. Similarly, apples worth more than 17.56 million rupees have been consumed within the district. In the district, the price of hybrid apple per kg has been set at Rs 240 and local traditional apple at Rs 151 per kg.
Six thousand 684.30 metric tons of apples were produced in Mustang last year. According to Chief Aryal, compared to last year, 354.24 metric tons i.e. (five.29) percent more apples have grown this year. Apple orchards have expanded to an area of 917 hectares in the district. Out of which, the hybrid apple area is 76 hectares and the local traditional apple area is 841 hectares.