Farmers of Baikuntha in Ward No. 6 of Ramprasad Rai Rural Municipality have begun commercial apple farming. After the ward launched an apple promotion program, local farmers have been collectively drawn to this initiative.
About 1,000 improved varieties of apple saplings have been expanded across the areas of Bakpa, Bhamla, Dingla of Upper Chhapgaon, and Choktang. The grafted saplings were brought from Solukhumbu and distributed to farmers. Last year alone, more than 1,800 saplings were planted over an area exceeding 100 ropani in the villages of Samke and Tamalung.
According to local resident Pandav Rai, 36 farmers from Samke and Tamalung have expanded apple farming across 100 ropani of land. He said that the ward’s 50 percent cost-sharing subsidy has encouraged farmers. “We are now engaged in commercial apple farming,” Rai said. “The ward has been providing the necessary subsidy support to expand cultivation.”
Ward Chairperson Ekraj Acharya said that special emphasis has been placed on adopting farming systems suited to the local geography and soil on cultivable land within the ward. He informed that a plan is being implemented to identify areas suitable for apple production and to encourage farmers toward commercial cultivation. “We have prioritized the apple farming expansion program,” Chairperson Acharya said. “The soil and climate here appear suitable for apple production. Our goal is to develop this area as a model apple-producing zone.”
Earlier, the ward had also established a nursery to promote commercial orange farming. According to the ward, the nursery was set up to provide farmers with saplings produced under local climatic conditions.
