KATHMANDU: The agriculture produce market in Dharan, Sunsari, recorded the sale of approximately 30 tonnes of fruit during the five-day Tihar festival. According to the market management, 30,000 kilograms of various fruits, including apples, pomegranates, oranges, grapes, and kiwis, were sold during the period.
Laxman Bhattarai, manager of the Dharan agriculture market, stated that the total fruit trade amounted to approximately Rs 10 million during the festival. He noted that the surge in demand during Tihar led to increased sales across various fruit categories. Domestic produce accounts for about half of the total fruit sold in the market.
The locally sourced fruits primarily include avocados, kiwis, and oranges, which are collected from eastern hill districts such as Terhathum, Dhankuta, Taplejung, Bhojpur, and Sankhuwasabha. Meanwhile, fruits like apples, pomegranates, and grapes are imported from India and China through traders, according to the market management.
The fruits collected from the hill districts and imported from abroad are distributed by local traders to various urban and rural markets across eastern Nepal, including Itahari and Biratnagar. The Dharan agriculture market serves as a primary hub for the collection, sale, and distribution of agricultural produce from the eastern hill districts of Koshi Province.
