Seeds of anxiety over core business

MUSTANG, Nepal - Being one of the oldest apple producers in the remote Mustang district, 75-year-old Nar Bahadur Hirachan feels proud that his village, Marhpa, produces the juiciest apples in Nepal.

"We used to sell apples by carrying them on bamboo baskets on our backs and walking to nearby cities. Later, the government helped us to market our products using helicopters since there were no roads. And now the demand is so high that buyers come here to pick apples from the trees themselves," he said.

Hirachan worked as a minister when Nepal was a kingdom about three decades ago. Now he owns 250 ropanies (1 ropani equals 509 square meters) of land, on which he makes a profit of more than 3 million rupees (about $30,000) annually.

"We also sell dry apples, apple juice, brandy and other products which are made without the use of chemicals. Everything here is organic," he said.

Mustang, which borders China, is located 200 kilometers away from Kathmandu and is considered to be the capital of apples.

The majority of houses in Mustang have apple orchards which produce different varieties like red delicious, rich red, royal, golden and fuji.

Production hub

Mustang is the second-largest apple production hub in the Himalayan country after the remote western district of Jumla. Apples from Mustang are considered the best for their texture, juiciness and crunchiness.

Mustang produced 4,500 metric tons of apples in the last fiscal year, generating a revenue of over 310 million rupees, according to the government.

However, Kathmandu received only a few tons in autumn last year equaling about 400,000 kilograms.

Keshav Khadka, an executive member of Nepal Fruits Wholesalers Association, said: "Apples from Mustang have been in high demand in recent years. But we have been failing to address the demand. Mustang apples are available for only two months, whereas we need apples throughout the year."

Khadka, who has been in the fruit business for 15 years, says Mustang's production capacity cannot meet the demand of the capital for even a couple of days. On normal days, around 700,000 kg of apples are consumed in the valley, with the amount rising exponentially during festive seasons.

Currently, 90 percent of the demand is being met by imports, with China being the biggest exporter and accounting for 70 percent. The other apple imports come from India, the United States and Australia.

An added problem is that many fear the industry could die out altogether, with the younger generations gradually losing interest in the apple business as they are more focused on immediate revenue-generating businesses like tourism, animal farm management and trade.