Hybrid apple farming expands across Manang district

MANANG: The practice of hybrid apple farming is rapidly expanding in Manang, with most households now tending to apple orchards.

Farmers in the district are increasingly transitioning from traditional subsistence farming to commercial hybrid apple cultivation due to its numerous benefits.

Sol Bahadur Gurung of Tachai, Naso Rural Municipality-8, is one of the many farmers who have adopted commercial hybrid apple farming.

He explained that the higher yield from hybrid seeds has drawn many towards this practice.

Additionally, the market for hybrid apple varieties has been encouraging, further boosting farmer interest.

Polden Chhopang Gurung, founder of Agro Manang, noted that both the production and market for hybrid apples are thriving.

What began as a small venture, with plants imported from abroad, has now expanded throughout the district, according to the Agriculture Knowledge Centre in Manang.

Agro founder Gurung reported that hybrid apple farming is currently being practiced on four ropanis of land using high-density technology.

“Initially, we started apple cultivation by importing saplings of high-yield hybrid varieties from Italy and Serbia. Today, farming of hybrid varieties such as Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, and Red Delicious has spread across the district,” he mentioned.

The hybrid apple farming initiative, which began six years ago, has now extended throughout Manang.

Madan Regmi, Chief of the Agriculture Knowledge Centre, shared that farmers are increasingly attracted to hybrid apple farming because these varieties start producing fruit within just two years.

With rising production levels, farmers’ incomes have also seen a significant increase.

Many farmers have shifted to hybrid apple farming after finding that local apple species did not yield a satisfactory income relative to the effort involved.

Chief Regmi added that hybrid apple farming now covers more than 13,000 ropanis in the district.

Apples produced in Manang are exported to major markets in Pokhara, Kathmandu, Chitwan, and even abroad.