BAGLUNG: Women of Tarakhola Rural Municipality in Baglung district have started producing kiwi juice after facing difficulties in selling the fruit itself.
Five years ago, they planted kiwis in their fields with hopes of earning high profits, but the lack of a stable market has forced them to explore alternative ways to utilize their harvest.
To prevent kiwis worth lakhs from going to waste despite abundant production, the women of the Pandherakhola Asturi Agricultural Group in Hilgaun, Tarakhola Rural Municipality-3, have begun processing the fruit into juice. Initially thrilled when their kiwi plants bloomed profusely, they are now worried as market demand has not kept pace with production.
Deukumari Rokamagar, a group member, explained that they usually send their produce to nearby markets such as Galkot and Baglung. “Our kiwis started blooming heavily two years ago, but we are facing challenges due to market problems. This year alone, we have produced more than 1,000 bottles of juice,” she said.
Rokamagar, who now packages the juice in 250 ml and 500 ml bottles, added: “We were told that kiwi would be in high demand and profitable, so we planted it throughout our gardens. But the reality has not matched expectations. It is difficult to find a market, and even when we do, the price is not fair. This year, we have started making juice. We are still testing the market and hope that if demand grows, it will provide an easier source of livelihood.”
The group’s treasurer, Bhabi Rokamagar, said that kiwi juice is being produced at the Singuji Agricultural Produce Processing Center, following a seven-day training program provided by Tarakhola Rural Municipality. She noted that marketing the product remains a major challenge and appealed for additional support from the local government. So far, the women have invested millions of rupees in the venture.
Technical management has ensured that the kiwi juice, considered beneficial for health, can be stored for up to 18 months. Chairman Dhan Bahadur BK said that the rural municipality provided a juicer machine worth three hundred thousand rupees and has been encouraging kiwi farming due to its high potential in Tarakhola.
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