Thailand, Malaysia potential markets for Jumla apples

SANGAM PRASAIN
KATHMANDU, SEP 23 -
Organic apples from Jumla may find a market in Thailand and Malaysia. With demand for Jumla’s A grade organic apples picking up in the domestic market, traders are now looking for export opportunities.

SNV, the Netherlands’s development organization which is running an improved apple production and marketing project in Jumla, said that Thailand and Malaysia were potential foreign markets for Nepali organic apples.

SNV Nepal, the District Agricultural Development Office in Jumla, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and World Vision are helping the farmers to improve production and marketing. In 2007, Jumla declared itself an organic district.

In 2007/08 apples were grown on 548 hectares and production was estimated at 5,425 tons. However, only about 100-150 tons were shipped out by air.

“Three apple cooperatives have already been organic certified according to the national organic guidelines; however, if they could get international certification, export opportunities would increase,” said Rik van Keulen, sector leader of Small Holder Cash Crops SNV Nepal.

Lack of transportation and marketing is the main reason why apple growers in Jumla have not been able to benefit as much as they could.

Presently, apples are being grown on 1,500 hectares. And although the harvest has just started, more than 2,000 tons of apples have been picked.

“Before 2009, these apples were hardly marketable due to various reasons,” Keulen said. Apple farmers were not organized, and they received the very low price of Rs. 10 per kg before. In 2009, three apple cooperatives united and bargained for better prices. All these efforts have increased price from Rs. 10 to Rs. 30 per kg.

Because of this success, nine apple cooperatives have united under the District Cooperative Federation and have signed a contract with a Kathmandu fruit company called B.H. Enterprises for the supply of 100 tons.

B.H Enterprises and organic wholesaler Organic World Fair Future are supplying Jumla organic apples in the domestic markets.

“We have started selling organic apples from Jumla for the first time, and within one month of the launch, we have been getting a good response,” said Govinda Shrestha, proprietor of Organic World Fair Future.

Shrestha added that they had supplied 200 kg and plan to increase the volume gradually. According to him, foreigners are the major customers of these apples.