Only 30% of Mustang’s apples exported so far

MUSTANG: Only 30 percent of the apples produced in Mustang district have been transported to markets outside the district so far, as prolonged road closures disrupted shipments during the peak marketing season.

The Beni-Jomsom road remained blocked for two weeks following floods, landslides and riverbank erosion triggered by heavy rainfall on September 27 (Asoj 11), disrupting apple transportation.

As a result, the volume of apples reaching markets has fallen significantly compared with the same period last year. With the road now reopened, farmers and traders have resumed shipments.

Dr. Lalmani Aryal, chief of the Agriculture and Livestock Development Branch in Mustang, said apple production was good this year, but the road blockage created significant challenges for farmers and traders in selling and transporting their produce.