Myagdi,
Nov 29 : The apples worth
Rs 500 million have been exported from Mustang this year.
Seventy percent
of the total product has been supplied outside the district, according to
agriculture knowledge centre. The export amounted 4,620 metric tons.
The apple is
sold at Rs 100 per kg in September and at Rs 120-130 in November.
However, the
farmers said the apple was sold at Rs 110 per kg in average. Chief of
agriculture knowledge centre in Mustang, Prakash Bastakoti, informed that the
apple production was upped by 18.56 percent this year. "It was found
during crop cutting and inquiry made at orchard. The production was increased
due to favourable climate, land and increased new plants," he
observed.
The apples were
planted in 580 hectares of land. The farming is done in all five local levels
of Mustang. The crop cutting survey had revealed that 11.37 metric tons of
apples is produced in a hectare, Bastakoti added.
This year, out
of total product, 440 metric tons of apples was produced with high density
technology. Such technology is adopted in 38 hectares of land.
The centre
further said farmers had been aware of orchard management.
Agriculture
officer for PM Agriculture Modernization Project, Netra Bhatta, said nearly 70
metric tons of apple was kept in six cold stores for off season sale. In
March-April, the apple will get more price.
There is an
apple zone programme under the PM Agriculture Modernization Project where more
than 125 firms including that of cooperatives, and private are being conducted
in the district. The agriculture knowledge centre has been running the apple
bloc programme. Seventy percent of the apple produced in Mustang is supplied
outside the district.
The apple is
produced in the land with the altitude of 2,500 meter from the sea level. The
cold weather with snow adds quality and taste to the apple.
The tourists
visiting Mustang buy apples as gift. There are also six liquor factories which
produce liquor by processing apples. (RSS)