Representative Image (Photo: Pexels)
MYAGDI: Apple harvesting season has commenced in Mustang with orchards in Marpha, Tukuche, Kagbeni, Muktinath, Jhong, Chusang and Tsele, among others, rich with ripe fruits.
Local resident Sushil Babu Thakali said that farmers have officially begun their apple harvesting on Monday.
This year, there has been a delay of two weeks compared to last year, as farmers opted to let the fruits ripen on the trees, according to Dip Lalchan, an apple farmer from Marpha.
Traders hailing from Mustang and surrounding districts are flocking to these orchards, where they are making bookings for entire harvests, according to local accounts.
Apple is cultivated over 1,200 hectares of land in Mustang. Total production is estimated at around 6,000 tons. The popular apple varieties grown in the region include Golden, Royal, Red Delicious, Richared, and Fuji Delicious.
The apples harvested in Mustang find their way to various markets, including Beni, Baglung Bazaar, Kushma, Pokhara, Narayanghat, Kathmandu, Butwal, Bhairahawa, and even international markets.
