Jumla’s apples want a bigger piece of Kathmandu
Summary
Jumla’s apple growers are selling directly in Kathmandu in an effort to expand the market, raise farmer incomes and build a stronger local brand. Poor roads, limited grading and packaging facilities, and higher transport costs continue to hold back the fruit’s wider reach.
Key Points
- Chandannath Multipurpose Cooperative has started selling Jumla apples directly to consumers in Kathmandu, with stalls at the NARC complex and plans to expand to Bhrikutimandap and Khumaltar.
- The cooperative hopes to bring about 300,000 apples to Kathmandu this season and says the goal is to increase farmers’ incomes and build a stronger market for Jumla produce.
- Transport difficulties, poor road conditions and the lack of modern grading, cleaning and packaging facilities are major obstacles for Jumla’s apple trade.
- Jumla produced about 19,840 tonnes of apples in the 2024-25 fiscal year, with output later estimated around 19,500 tonnes this year.
