Annapurna Rural Municipality Farmers Earn Nearly NPR 40 Million from Orange Sales

Myagdi. Farmers in Annapurna Rural Municipality of Myagdi have earned approximately NPR 40 million from orange sales this year. The Agriculture Development Branch of Annapurna Rural Municipality collected the details of the oranges sold by the farmers.

Samjhana Khatri, a technician at the Agriculture Branch, informed that oranges worth NPR 38.8 million were sold from all orchards in the municipality. She stated that oranges worth NPR 7 million were sold in Ward No. 1 Doba, NPR 3.9 million in Ward No. 2 Bhurung-Tatopani, NPR 2.1 million in Ward No. 3 Dana, NPR 1 million in Ward No. 4 Narchyang, NPR 6 million in Ward No. 6 Ghaar, and oranges worth NPR 18.8 million were sold in Ward No. 7 Histan Dosalle and Aula.

More than 200 farmers sold oranges ranging from a minimum of NPR 50,000 to NPR 2 million in value. Bikash Shrestha, a farmer from Dosalle, sold the highest amount, worth NPR 2 million.

Farmers in Annapurna started picking and sending oranges to the market only after Magh (mid-January/February) this year, which is later than usual. They finished picking and sending oranges to the market by Falgun 2 (February 14).

Dosalle farmer Shrestha mentioned that although production was 40 percent less compared to last year, the income increased because they received double the price. Farmers in Dosalle fetched up to NPR 200 per kilogram for oranges.

Orange is the main cash crop of Annapurna Rural Municipality. Among the agricultural crops sold in large quantities here, orange follows potato.

Divya Tilija Pun, Vice-Chairperson of Annapurna Rural Municipality, stated that farmers have been supported in expanding and managing their orange orchards.