Mustang. Traders have not been able to sell Mustang apples as expected for a few months. Due to the blocking of the Beni-Jomsom road in the east, the apples were not sold as expected because they could not send the apples to the market within the time limit.
For a few months, Mustang apples have been piled up in the warehouses of fruit sellers in Pokhara-Kathmandu. As the road was blocked during the main time of apple consumption, the apples of Mustang were stopped in the district. Beni-Jomsom road was opened only two days before the incident.
At the end of Dasain, with the opening of the road, when the Mustang apples were delivered to the market simultaneously, the traders faced problems in selling the apples. Raju Tamang, a businessman from Dhading Khaniabans rural municipality-3, who is trading apples in Mustang, says that this time he is under stress because the apples are not sold. He said that apples worth more than 10 million have been purchased from Mustang, but only half of them have been sold so far.
“The money was handed over to the apple farmers, but I am under stress because the apples are not sold”, says the businessman Tamang, “How can I raise the investment? Even Dasain could not be celebrated properly because the apples are not sold.” As the apples of Mustang had to be brought to the market at once, the godowns and markets were full, so the apples could not be consumed. Apple production is good in Mustang this year, but due to the blockage of the Beni-Jomsom road, it is difficult to sell apples here in the market. It is projected that 10,000 metric tons of apples will be produced in Mustang this year.
In the past, Mustang apples were sold before October. This time, due to road blockage, the price and sales of Mustang apples have decreased when they reach the market at the same time. Gurung, the owner of Chimle Achard Agricultural Farm, who aims to produce 700 metric tons of apples this year, says that only half of the apples should have been sold by the end of October.
“Only half of the apples have been sold till December, 40 percent of the apples are yet to be picked”, said farmer Gurung, “As the apples are not consumed, the apples are falling off the plant and are being destroyed. I have kept 400 tons of apples in cold storage.”
He said that although the sale and management of apples was good last year, this year the season for consumption of apples is over, but the concern has increased. This year, it was decided at the district level that fast ripening apples can be picked from August 12 and late ripening apples from August 22.
According to the same decision, 20 percent of apples could be sent to the market on the occasion of Haritalika Teej festival. Agriculture and Animal Development Office Mustang has said that 50 percent of apples have been exported to Pokhara-Kathmandu and other cities so far.
According to Dr. Lalmani Aryal, Head of Agriculture and Livestock Development Office, there was some problem in marketing Mustang apples this year due to road blockage.
About 40 percent of apples are yet to be picked in the garden.