A wine industry has come to the rescue of the Kiwi farmers in West Rukkum.
Kiwi farmers in Aathbiskot Municipality, West Rukkum, faced problems in selling their produce despite growing it in abundance. The farmers were hindered by lack of road connectivity and far away market.
The production of Kiwi had increased with many farmers joining Kiwi farming but finding a market for the fruit had been difficult.
Farmers now have been relieved as Karnali Beverages Pvt Ltd is set to buy the kiwi produced by the farmers of the municipality.
Mayor of the municipality Ravi KC said an agreement has been reached between the company and farmers to purchase Kiwi fruit at Rs 125 per kg. According to him, 142 quintals of kiwi have been produced in wards number 1, 2, 3, 10, 11 and 12 of the municipality.
There are 47 farmers involved in commercial farming of Kiwi fruit in the municipality.
After the local government emphasized kiwi cultivation, the number of farmers cultivating kiwi in the municipality has increased. The government had distributed kiwi seedlings to the farmers.
Almost 2,100 kiwi plants were planted in the municipality last year alone. Currently, the municipality estimates that around 1,500 kiwi plants are bearing fruit in the municipality.
Similarly, the municipality is also going to provide subsidy to farmers for transportation of the fruit.
Mayor KC said that the municipality would pay the fare for transporting kiwi from the farmer's field to the company in Ward No. 12.
Ganesh Shahi of Ward No. 10 in the municipality produces 25 quintals of kiwi annually. He had a lot of trouble in selling kiwifruit due to lack of transportation service.
He is now happy that kiwifruit will be consumed in the municipality itself along with subsidy for transportation.
Karnali Beverages has been producing wine and various kinds of fruit juices and buying farmers' produce to support them while continuining its business.
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