KATHMANDU: Apple farming has proven successful in the high-altitude villages of Ghunsa and Phale in Taplejung, where saplings imported from Italy are now bearing fruit. The trial cultivation, located at altitudes of 3,475 meters in Ghunsa and 3,232 meters in Phale, has seen abundant harvests four years after planting.
According to locals, the trial involved Fuji and Golden Delicious varieties. Tenzing Serap Sherpa, a member of the Phaktanglung Rural Municipality executive committee, noted that the plants began bearing fruit within a year of being planted and are now flourishing. Residents report that the region, which experiences heavy snowfall during winter, has proven suitable for the crop.
Ghunsa and Phale lie along the Kanchenjunga trekking route. Local resident Mingma Sherpa mentioned that the apples are currently being offered to domestic and international tourists as tasting samples and gifts. He added that visitors are drawn to the juicy and flavorful quality of the fruit. Given the positive reception, locals are now planning to expand the orchards to generate income.
However, residents emphasize that expanding the cultivation requires support from the local government or other agencies, as transporting saplings from abroad to these remote Himalayan locations is costly. Locals are currently coordinating with rural municipality officials to seek assistance for future expansion.
