The local levels in Jumla district have decided to restrict apple picking in early season.
The decision was taken as the fame of organic values of apples of Jumla could fade away due to sale of unripe apple as there was plenty supply of unripe apple in the markets of Surkhet, Nepalgunj and Dang. The Patarashi Rural Municipality in Jumla has decided to allow farmers to pick apple from August 24 in view of Teej festival, Rural Municipality Chairman Purna Singh Bohara said.
If the farmers were found picking the apples prior to August 24, they would be deprived of grants and other subsidies to be given from rural municipality, officials said. Likewise, Tatopani Rural Municipality and Chandannath Municipality have decided to permit farmers to pick apples only after August 31, arguing that the move would help maintain quality of apple while ensuring good returns to farmers.
Furthermore, Tila, Kanaka Sundari and Guthichaur rural municipalities have also issued separate circulations to collect apple only after August 26. Chief of Agricultural Development Office, Jumla, Ganesh Adhikari, said Hima Rural Municipality has allowed farmers to collect apple only after August 17 from lower belt and after August 21 from upper belt of rural municipality.
The Prime Minister Agriculture Modernisation Project Programme Unit, Jumla, stated that the traders were also suggested to buy apples only in appropriate time by considering the size of the apple and the season it gets ripe.
