Mustang: 13 Jul: For household expenses, Angya (Ngawang) and Chhiring Dhoka Gurung, a couple from Tiri village in Ward No. 4 of Baragung Muktikshetra Rural Municipality, Mustang, began cultivating apples on about one ropani of land.
Although their land was arable, challenges such as lack of adequate irrigation initially made farming difficult. However, once they started earning from apple cultivation, the couple gradually expanded their orchard across more of their fields. What began on a single ropani has now grown to over 60 ropanis of apple cultivation.
Many who once mocked Angya and Chhiring—saying commercial apple farming was unviable and a waste of investment—are now astonished by their success. Initially started to support household expenses and their children’s education, the apple farm has now become a model enterprise.
Their farm, Ngawang Hisi Agriculture and Livestock Organic Farm, has not only become a standout in Mustang district but has also earned national recognition. This year, the couple received Nepal’s Presidential Outstanding Farmer Award, which includes a cash prize of NPR 200,000, and were declared the Best Farmers of Gandaki Province by the Ministry of Agriculture, Land Management, and Cooperatives.
On Friday in Pokhara, Agriculture, Land Management and Cooperatives Minister Padma Giri Shrestha and Secretary Basudev Regmi honored the couple with a cash prize of NPR 50,000, along with a dosalla (ceremonial shawl) and a certificate of appreciation.
Model farmer Chhiring Dhoka said, “I now truly feel what it means when people say ‘the fruit of hard work is sweet.’ These recognitions have given us even more energy to continue our agricultural work.” She added that she never expected the Government of Nepal would honor someone growing apples in a remote village of Mustang. “I now understand that the government really does search out and honor model farmers doing exemplary work,” she said.
The couple, Chhiring and Angya, currently have around 2,500 apple trees in their orchard and are planning to plant an additional 500 high-density apple saplings imported from the neighboring district of Manang this year. Last year, after covering their expenses, they earned NPR 3.5 million (35 lakh) from apple sales alone.
In addition to apple farming, the couple also raise chyangra (mountain goats) and have provided employment to six people. With around 500 chyangras in their farm, they made an income of NPR 1.3 million (13 lakh) from goat farming last year.
Thanks to the efforts of Province Assembly Member Bikal Sherchan (Constituency 2), this year the couple gained access to irrigation water. A 585-meter pipeline was constructed to divert water from the Kali Gandaki River to Tiri village through the Water Source and Irrigation Development Division Office in Mustang. This access to water has enabled the couple to plan to expand apple farming to 200 ropanis of land by purchasing or leasing plots.
Karma Ghyacho Gurung, Ward Chair of Baragung Muktikshetra Rural Municipality–4, said that the couple’s success in apple farming, started with risk and uncertainty, is a clear example of how farmer perseverance leads to remarkable achievements.
Ward Chair Gurung stated, “Today, they are being praised everywhere. Aspiring apple farmers have much to learn from them.”
At a time when 13 households in the village were facing displacement due to the drying up of water sources caused by climate change, the struggle and success of Angya and Chhiring in commercial apple farming and livestock rearing have become a story of hope and inspiration.
Last year alone, Mustang exported apples worth approximately NPR 900 million (90 crore).
