Kathmandu— Farmers in Nepal's Bajura district are grappling with a yearly dilemma: the closure of the Martadi–Kolti road just as their apples ripen, leaving them unable to transport their crops to market. The road has been obstructed since May and is unlikely to reopen until November, causing substantial financial losses for local producers who rely on apple farming as their primary source of income.

Impact on Local Economy

The closure of the Martadi–Kolti road has a direct impact on the livelihoods of farmers in Bajura. Prakash Rokaya, an apple farmer from Budhinanda Municipality-9, expressed his concern over the inability to sell ripe apples due to the lack of transportation options. “I have around 400 to 500 apple trees, and most of them have yielded a good crop this year,” he said. “But with the road closed, it is impossible for us to carry the apples to the market on our back.”

Farmers in Budhinanda Municipality face unique challenges compared to those in other parts of the district like Himali, Swamikartik Khapar and Jagannath, who can transport their produce through alternative routes such as the Karnali Corridor.

Government Response

Despite repeated appeals from farmers, no concrete action has been taken to address the issue of road closure during apple ripening season. The Agriculture Knowledge Centre in Bajura reports that around 600 tonnes of apples are sold annually across various cities within the country. Last year alone, approximately 1,020 tonnes were produced in Bajura.

Jasiram Sahani, Chief of the Agriculture Knowledge Centre, acknowledged the difficulties faced by farmers and noted that transportation subsidies have been provided to help deliver apples to markets. However, these measures do not fully alleviate the financial strain caused by road closures.

(With inputs from Rising Nepal)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.