Jumla, Sept 5 – Jumla is alive with the sound of apple-picking! Farmers across seven rural municipalities and one municipality are working non-stop to harvest their ripe, sweet apples. Traders are buying directly from orchards, paying Rs. 65 per kilo, and transporting the fruit to markets like Surkhet and Nepalgunj.

Premraj Pandey, a farmer from Tatopani-4, says production is down by about 40% this year — only half of his 100+ trees bore fruit. Even so, the district is expected to produce 16,000 metric tons of apples this season, generating over Rs. 45 crore in revenue.

To help farmers, the Agriculture Development Office has been providing 50% subsidies on apple saplings and “Jumla Apple” branded cartons to improve marketing.

While apples dominate the hillsides, women in Tila Rural Municipality-8 are transforming their lives through climate-smart vegetable farming.

“Last year we earned Rs. 1 lakh just from vegetables,” said farmer Shova Basnet. Tomatoes now sell for Rs. 40 per kilo, supplying markets in Raraser, Nagm, and Khalanga.

Support from KIRDARC Nepal and World Vision International has introduced techniques like composting, biochar, plastic tunnels, and water harvesting, while equipment like hand tractors has made farming easier. Transport challenges still limit potential income, but women are steadily becoming more self-reliant and turning farming into a sustainable livelihood.