MUSTANG: Nepal has imported 3,725 metric tonnes of Chinese fruit through the northern Korala border crossing as of Sunday. The import of fruit and related products from China via this route began on Sept. 5.
According to the quarantine office in Lomanthang-4 Nhechung, 11 types of fruit have entered Nepal through the border point. The shift to the Korala route followed the closure of the Rasuwagadhi-Kerung border after floods in Bhotekoshi on Aug. 26 and the long-standing closure of the Tatopani border. Bandana Ghartimagar, a technical assistant at the quarantine office, stated that the import volume has been increasing over the past two months to meet demand for the Dashain, Tihar, and Chhath festivals.
Imported items include apples, dragon fruit, pears, mangoes, grapes, and raisins, alongside pumpkin seeds, garlic, and buckwheat. Apples and walnuts have been the most imported items during this period. However, the supply chain faced significant challenges when the Beni-Jomsom road was obstructed for over two weeks due to floods and landslides on Sept. 27. The disruption prevented goods that had cleared quarantine and customs from reaching their destinations. As a result, one container of dragon fruit began to spoil and was distributed for free to local residents in Mustang.
