MUSTANG: Harvesting of early-ripening apples has begun in Mustang, with farmers and traders starting to pick varieties such as Gala and Golden following the district’s official harvesting schedule.

District-level stakeholders, including representatives from the five local governments, the Agriculture and Livestock Development Office, the National Agriculture Modernisation Programme, the Programme Implementation Unit, local administration and farmers, had set August 31 as the starting date for harvesting early-ripening varieties. Late-ripening apples can be harvested from September 7.

The schedule was introduced to maintain the quality of Mustang’s apples, ensure systematic marketing and distribution, meet market demand and protect the reputation of the district’s produce.

Dr Lalmani Aryal, chief of the Agriculture and Livestock Development Office, said harvesting of early varieties began on Monday. Gala and Golden apples are currently being harvested in Thasang, Gharpajhong and Waragung Muktikshetra rural municipalities.

Farmers have increasingly adopted high-density, technology-based hybrid apple varieties in recent years. According to Aryal, harvesting has begun with the aim of supplying apples to the market during the Teej festival and the green season.

Ram Tamang, manager of Green Mukti Agriculture and Livestock Development Farm, said harvesting began at the orchard of farmer Bhim Gurung on Monday. Preparations are underway to transport the apples to Kathmandu according to the district’s harvesting schedule.

Around three dozen workers have been mobilised at the orchard for harvesting, placing apples in crates, transporting them to storage, grading, weighing, packaging and loading. Tamang said the farm plans to harvest hybrid apples grown across 40 ropanis and transport them to Kathmandu within two days.

While high-density hybrid apples have entered the harvesting stage, traditional local varieties will be harvested only after Bhadra, Tamang said.

Meanwhile, Chimle Achard Agricultural Farm in Dhumba, Gharpajhong Rural Municipality-5, is also preparing to harvest its apples. Farm manager Aitaram Tamang said harvesting would begin after a few days because the road connecting Mustang with Kathmandu is currently blocked. The farm plans to send all its early- and late-ripening apples to the Kathmandu market.

With the start of the apple season, activity in Mustang’s orchards has increased, along with the arrival of traders. Traders typically reach Mustang before Shrawan to inspect orchards and make advance payments, locally known as baina-patta, to secure apples for marketing and distribution.

Mustang produced apples worth more than Rs 900 million last year. According to the Agriculture and Livestock Development Office, about 80 percent of the district’s apple production was transported outside Mustang, while around 20 percent was consumed locally.

Apple cultivation currently covers approximately 1,400 hectares in Mustang. Farmers have increasingly shifted toward high-density hybrid cultivation in recent years because of its faster and more efficient production.