Kankrevihar (Surkhet), 27 Ashoj(13 October): Apples produced in the Himalayan district of Karnali province have got a good market this year. Lakshman Kandel, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Surkhet, said that after the apples produced in Jumla, Kalikot, Humla and Mugu found a market, the sale of apples imported from India and other countries was greatly affected in the local market.
He said that when the apples here started getting cheap, they got information that they got a good market in Surkhet, Chinchu, Kohalpur and Nepalgunj. “We have requested all concerned agencies to market Karnali’s apples. We have also asked the fruit traders here to sell and distribute local apples, which has had a good effect”, said President Kandel.
Krishna Oli of Banke, Kohalpur informed that Apples from China and India are consumed more in Nepalganj and Karnali apples have taken over the market. He said that apples from Karnali have found a market even in the Indian parts bordering Nepal. Kaman Ji, a businessman from Birendranagar Surkhet, said that while Indian apples are being sold at Rs. 150-250 and Chinese apples are being sold at Rs 160 and more while Nepali apples are available price at Rs 90-120. Bir Bahadur Khatri of Jajarkot Nalgad Municipality-8 said that most of the people use apples from Karnali as gifts during Dasain. He informed that there is a market for apples coming from Mugu, Jumla and Dolpa by land route.
