Farmers in Tehrathum district, Nepal, have witnessed a significant rise in orange prices, attributed to the Myanglung Cold Store. Initially, the price was Rs 60 per kg, which escalated to Rs 200 per kg after utilizing the cold storage facility. This facility, with a 1,000 metric tons capacity, received financial support of Rs 30 million from the Koshi Province government, in collaboration with the Myanglung municipality and Kiyachu Agriculture Cooperatives.
Local farmers, including Menuka Kumari Shrestha from Myanglung municipality-2, reported that the income from orange sales has tripled due to the enhanced preservation. The storage cost for farmers is Rs 2.50 per kg. "In the past, oranges were either unsold during winter or sold at significantly lower prices, around Rs 50 per kg," Shrestha stated. Motiram Tumbahangphe highlighted the initial hesitance among farmers to use the cold store but acknowledged its benefits in maintaining the freshness and taste of the oranges.
Kumari Limbu, the cold store manager, is focusing on educating farmers about the facility's advantages. The cold store currently has 3,000 kg of kiwi and 2,000 kg of oranges, with plans to include potato seedlings. The extended availability of oranges into the spring season is a positive development for both sellers and consumers in the local agricultural sector.
[ ₹100 = €0.70 ]
Source: english.khabarhub.com