This year, Thimphu farmers expect a better apple yield than in previous years. In the past three years, apple trees have been affected by pests and diseases, leading to the drying up of trees. However, according to the Integrated Agriculture and Livestock Census Report 2023, the country produced nearly 600 DCM truckloads of apples, a significant increase from 2022. Paro and Thimphu were the top apple producers, while other apple-growing districts are yet to regain their production levels.
As the apple harvest season begins, farmers in Thimphu are anticipating a more fruitful harvest than in previous years.
Damcho Wangdi, a farmer from Hongtsho in Thimphu, has an orchard brimming with ripe apples, ready for picking.
“This year’s yield would be better compared to the previous years. Sometimes apples get infected by pests and trees dry up. Keeping our land barren is not an option, so I planted plum and pear trees to substitute apple production.”
When production declined in the past few years, farmers diversified by planting other fruit trees and vegetables alongside apples.
Kinley Dorji, a farmer said “this year’s apple yield is same as last years’. But until last year, apple production has plummeted as trees have been infected by disease. It has been two years that the production have recovered. I am not sure if it is due to adequate rainfall.”
Rinchen Tashi, another farmer said “apple yield have fallen for the past three years and this year’s yield is better than last year. We also cultivate potato and cabbages along with apple.”
The Million Fruit Tree Plantation Project has also benefited farmers, who said that high-end fruits like peaches and pears have better yields than apples.
Meanwhile, parts of Paro, Bumthang, and Haa, where apples are grown, have yet to regain their production levels.
Farmers in Paro said that orchards, which used to produce about eight truckloads of apples, are now down to just three truckloads.
According to the Integrated Agriculture and Livestock Census Report 2023, the increase in apple production last year is due to a rise in fruit-bearing trees and the number of apple growers.
Fruit vendors at the Kaja Throm in Thimphu said they are able to sell apples more compared to other fruits, as apples can be stored for a longer duration.
Currently, a crate of apples costs between Nu 1,200 to 1,500 in Thimphu.
Tashi Chezom
Edited by Sherub Dorji
