BAGLUNG: The apple farming venture started six years ago by Man Bahadur Roka, chairman of Tarakhola Rural Municipality-5, with seedlings brought from Jumla for trial purposes, has now developed into commercial production.
Royal Red and Italian Fuji are the main attractions of his orchard. Roka initially planted 100 seedlings but was able to save only 80. Today, he has 140 fruit-bearing apple trees of various varieties, spread over four ropanis of land. He plans to expand the cultivation to six ropanis in the near future, with a long-term goal of 10 ropanis.
Roka said he has invested about Rs 150,000 in apple farming, with most seedlings provided as grants from various agencies, keeping costs low. This year, his orchard produced around four quintals of apples.
According to Rajeshwor Silwal, head of the Agricultural Knowledge Center, apple farming thrives in areas with irrigation facilities, low rainfall, and abundant sunlight.
Commercial apple farming is being practiced in Dhorpatan and Nisel Dhor, with 56.92 hectares under cultivation across the district, producing about 331.2 metric tons of apples annually.
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