KATHMANDU: In a pioneering agricultural development, apples are now being successfully cultivated in the intense heat of Nawalpur, a region traditionally considered unsuitable for apple farming. The Agricultural and Forest Conservation Research Centre Pvt. Ltd. in Ratnapur of Madhyabindu Municipality-3 has established a thriving apple orchard spanning over 10 bighas, with more than 4,000 trees capable of withstanding temperatures as high as 42 degrees Celsius. This large-scale apple cultivation in the Tarai region follows a similar initiative in Kailali.
Three heat-resistant apple cultivars from Kashmir, India are grown in the orchard: Anna, Dorset, and hmr-99. The majority of these trees started to bloom and produce fruit two years after they were planted, demonstrating the positive outcomes. By the next year, apples grown in this orchard should be able to be purchased. With the center investing between Rs. 3.5 and Rs. 4 million in this innovative project, the Tarai region's agricultural environment has undergone a dramatic change.
In addition to apple cultivation, the research center produces and sells saplings, which have generated demand from various parts of the country. The center has diversified its horticultural activities, planting a wide range of fruits such as guavas, oranges, lemons, cinnamon, cherries, jackfruit, bananas, and advanced varieties of peanuts. The use of tissue culture technology for producing banana and bamboo saplings further enhances the center’s contribution to the agricultural sector.
Financed by Prof. Dr. Meghraj Shrestha, who returned to Nepal after living in Australia, the research center not only supports local agriculture but also provides daily employment to 35 to 40 people. As commercial apple production gains traction in the Tarai, the center is also positioning itself as a destination for agro-tourism, drawing 20 to 50 visitors daily who come to observe the orchard, study its practices, and purchase saplings.
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