Taplejung farmers worry about drop in price of kiwi

PHUNGLING: The farmers in Phungling Municipality of Taplejung district are worried about the drop in the price of kiwi. Although they began kiwi farming expecting good sales, they are now selling the produce at a low price. Most of the farmers in the eastern belt of Taplejung launched kiwi farming seven years ago. They are worried because of declining demand in the market. Khel Prasad Budhathoki, a farmer from Pedang of Sirijung Rural Municipality-5 informed that there was almost no demand for kiwi. Most of the farmers began kiwi farming at the same time. At present, nearly 1,000 quintals of kiwi have been produced in the district. At a time when the kiwi is for sale, there is no market at all, Harkaraj Gurung from Phungling-6 shared plight. He demanded that local levels should provide assistance to the farmers in view of farmers' plight. If there were cold stores, farmers would get some relief, Gurung added. Bijay Dangi from Tiringe of Pathibhara Yangbarak Rural Municipality-3 also expressed his concern about why all layers of government did not pay attention to the farmers' problems. If the farmers' concern is not addressed, they are on the verge of losing a huge amount. Such disappointment among commercial farmers in Taplejung is a bad omen, he observed. In the beginning, the farmers could sell the kiwi at Rs 600 a kilo, which has now declined to Rs 80 to 100. Even at such a negligible price, all kiwi is not sold. Although farmers could reap huge benefits from the kiwi, the lack of infrastructures such as cold stores and markets forced the farmers to sell the product at a negligible price, Kumari Buddha Kangbang from Phaktanglung Rural Municipality viewed. Kiwi is said to have numerous health benefits. By RSS READ ALSO:

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