Money
Apple farmers delighted as road reaches village
Farmer Mani Chandra Pandey of Phoi Mahadev village in Kalikot district used to sell his potatoes for Rs5 per kg. After a road was built connecting the remote village in western Nepal this week, his potatoes fetched Rs12 per kg as they could be easily shipped to market by motor vehicle.Farmer Mani Chandra Pandey of Phoi Mahadev village in Kalikot district used to sell his potatoes for Rs5 per kg. After a road was built connecting the remote village in western Nepal this week, his potatoes fetched Rs12 per kg as they could be easily shipped to market by motor vehicle.
“It used to be difficult and costly to carry goods by porter to Karnali Highway,” said Pandey. “It’s not difficult anymore.” Phoi Mahadev village is now connected with the Surkhet-Jumla road which is part of Karnali Highway.
“After the road was built, it has become easy for farmers to ship their agricultural goods, fruits and herbs to market,” said Surya Bahadur Shahi, a ward chairman of Tilgupha Municipality.
Vehicles now ply the 4-km road connecting Rachuli, Tilgupha to Phoi Mahadev. Tilgupha Municipality spent Rs450 million to build the rural road.
Apple farmer Begam Shahi said that they were delighted as they now have market access to sell their products. Before the road was built, porters had to carry the apples on their backs and walk a long distance, which resulted in the fruits being damaged. “Now the products will be transported by motor vehicle and they won’t get damaged.” Apple growers said that they could now ship their product to key markets in the Tarai like Nepalgunj, Dhangadhi and Butwal.
The road has benefitted vegetable farmers too besides apple growers. Tilgupha Municipality is popular for beans and potatoes. “We have invested on the road in order to create market access for farmers so they can get fair prices for their crops,” said Mayor Ratan Bahadur Shahi.
After the government began work for the construction of Karnali Highway, farmers in remote Kalikot launched a campaign to plant fruit saplings and vegetables. However, the entire highway was built along the banks of the Tila River, and the farmers suffered as it did not connect their villages.
“We launched the apple planting campaign when the highway project was started,” said Dadi Singh Karki, a farmer in Phoi Mahadev village. “After many years, the road has finally reached our village.”
Farmers said the road network would also reduce the involvement of middlemen in the apple business. Farmers were forced to sell their products at a lower rate earlier due to lack of road connectivity.