Economics of production and marketing of apple (Malus domestica) in Mustang, Nepal

Abstract

A study was carried out to assess the production and marketing status of apple in the Mustang district of Nepal in 2019. A total of 100 households were sampled by using simple random sampling technique and interviewed with a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and independent-sample t-test was used for data analysis using SPSS and MS-Excel. Farmers were categorized into small farmers (n=68) and large farmers (n=32) based on the number of apple trees grown by farmers. The average area under apple cultivation was 6.64 ropani (0.3378 hactares). The overall average apple production was 2848 kg (2.84 Mt) and the large farmers had more apple production (7035 kg) as compared to small farmers (877 kg). The average annual household income from apple was NRs. 29,868 (248.90 USD). Apple farming was found to be a profitable farm enterprise with a benefit-cost ratio of 1.84. Two marketing channel was identified in the study area and Channel II was found more profitable. Education status of household head, ethnicity, number of economically active family members, experience on apple farming and visit of extension worker to apple farms were the significant factors that positively affected the production and marketing of apple. The satisfaction level of farmers from production and marketing of apple was found very poor (79%). Unavailability of inputs, lack of storage facilities, insect pest damage, poor technical knowledge and infrastructure were major production problems. Similarly, price variation, poor marketing infrastructure and linkage, high postharvest loss, poor bargaining power and low volume of production were the major marketing problems.

A Comprehensive Assessment of Apple Production in Jumla District, Nepal: Status, Economics, Marketing and Challenges

“…These results underscore the diversity in land ownership and cultivation practices among respondents, providing valuable insights for further analysis and decision-making in the study area. Our research findings indicate that the total apple production area in Jumla, which amounts to 0.3164 hectares, aligns with the results reported in Mustang by Gayak et al (2020).…”

Climate Change and New Markets: Multi-Factorial Drivers of Recent Land-Use Change in The Semi-Arid Trans-Himalaya, Nepal

“…Due to the direct connection to the marketplaces of large cities such as Beni, Pokhara, or even Kathmandu, agricultural products can now be transported conveniently and cost-effectively from this formerly peripheral region [62,96,97]. Moreover, the new transport options have also significantly reduced the proportion of jostled and bruised apples making the apple business much more lucrative even for households with small areas of arable land [98,99]. This means that the subsistence economy in the Mustang District has been superseded by a market-oriented economy in which fruit and vegetables are transported to supra-regional markets [62,97,100,101].…”

Socioeconomic Conditions of Apple Growers in Marpha, Mustang District

“…It is believed that the edible apple originated in Central Asia. It is small to medium tree with dark green serrated leaves and fleshy edible fruits (Collett, 2011). Apple farming in Nepal started in Kali Gandaki valley before the 1960 but first commercial apple farming in Nepal started at Marpha, Mustang when Horticultural Farm was established and introduced new varieties of apples and production methods in 1966.…”