Mustang’s apple harvest season has officially begun, with farmers starting to pick early-maturing varieties ahead of Haritalika Teej, when demand for apples and other seasonal fruits typically increases in Nepal’s urban markets.

Harvesting of early varieties was permitted from August 31, while late-maturing varieties can be harvested from September 7, under a schedule agreed upon by local governments, agriculture officials, farmers and other stakeholders.

The harvesting schedule is intended to ensure that Mustang apples reach consumers at the appropriate stage of maturity and with adequate sweetness, helping protect the quality and market reputation of apples produced in the district.

Agriculture and Livestock Development Office chief Dr Lalmani Aryal said harvesting of Gala and Golden varieties has started in Thasang, Gharpajhong and Baragung Muktichhetra rural municipalities.

Much of the early production is coming from high-density hybrid apple orchards, which have gained popularity among Mustang farmers because they generally begin producing fruit more quickly than traditional varieties.

At one orchard operated by farmer Bhim Gurung, around three dozen workers have been mobilised for harvesting and post-harvest activities, including sorting, weighing, grading, packaging and loading.

Similarly, Green Mukti Agriculture and Livestock Development Farm is harvesting apples from around 40 ropanis of land. Farm manager Ram Tamang said the produce is expected to be transported to Kathmandu within two days, with the farm specifically targeting the Teej market.

However, road disruptions have affected harvesting plans at some farms. A farm in Dhumba, Gharpajhong-5, has delayed harvesting for several days because transportation routes towards Kathmandu are currently disrupted.

The beginning of the apple season has also attracted traders to Mustang. Traders often visit orchards ahead of the harvest, make arrangements with farmers and return during the harvest period to collect and transport apples to major markets.

Mustang has become an important source of domestic apples, with the district producing more than Rs900 million worth of apples last year. Around 80% of total production was sent outside Mustang, while the remaining 20% was consumed within the district.

Apple cultivation currently covers approximately 1,400 hectares across Mustang. While traditional local varieties remain important, farmers are increasingly expanding high-density and hybrid apple cultivation to improve productivity and shorten the time required for orchards to reach commercial production.

With the Teej festival approaching, the early harvest is expected to increase the flow of Mustang apples towards Kathmandu and other major consumption centres, making road connectivity and efficient post-harvest handling particularly important for farmers and traders.