Bajura, Sept. 23: Farmers of Swamikartik Khapar Rural Municipality in the north-east part of the district have earned more than Rs. 10 million by selling apples this year.

Out of 2,400 households in Swamikartik Khapar Rural Municipality, 1,800 households have earned more than Rs. 10 million by selling apples this year.

Uttam Shahi, a farmer of Swamikartik Khapar Rural Municipality, said that as the apples were sold on time this year from their gardens, there was better income than last year.

He said, “In the past year, we had to take the apples to the market and sell them. This year, after the traders came to the apple garden and picked all of them, there was a good income at home.”

Almost 80 per cent of the apples produced this year have been sold.

“Now 20 per cent of apples are left. That apple has been stored in the cellar store. All these stored apples will be sold after a few days,” he said.

Although apples have been grown here in the village since generations, when the apples did not reach the market on time, the locals used to feed them to the cattle.

Lately, the organic apples produced by the farmers here have started to be sold in the market on time after the rural municipality has been taking initiatives to market them in different parts of the country.

Apples are produced in various places, including Jewale, Saideo Khunka, Loki and Joru of Swamikartik Khapar Rural Municipality.

After the Kolti-Martadi road was not reopened, the contractors have transported apples to different markets outside the district via the Karnali Corridor.

Last year, apples grown in Bajura were taken to Kathmandu, Achham, Doti, Dadeldhura, and Kailali for sale.

This year, as the Martadi-Kolti road has been blocked for a long time, they have been taken to Kailali, Nepalgunj and Kathmandu from Karnali Corridor.

Local, delicious, royal, red delicious, golden, gala and fuji, among other apples, are being produced here.

Binod Shahi, chief of Agriculture Unit of Swamikartik Khapar Rural Municipality, said that the farmers here, who faced a loss while selling apples last year, have made income of more than Rs. 10 million this year.

“Almost 80 per cent of the apples produced in Swamikartika have been sold. Farmers here have received nearly Rs. 8 million from the sale of those apples. Apples worth more than Rs. 2.5 million have been kept in the cellar store,” he said.

He said, “Twenty-five tonnes of apples have been picked from the orchard and kept in the cellar store. After a few days, there is a plan to supply these apples to different cities of the country for sale.”

Chairman of Swamikartik Khapar Rural Municipality Bharat Rokaya said that the farmers here are now encouraged to start apple cultivation.

Out of 2,400 households in Swamikartik Khapar Village, about 1,800 households have started apple cultivation commercially.

He said, “For the sale of apples produced here, the rural municipality plans to market them in different parts of the country and also arrange transportation for that.”

Last year, transportation subsidy was arranged for the apple farmers.

Chairman Rokaya said that this year, traders themselves came to apple orchards and supplied them to different cities of the country.