Apple farming has been expanded in Baikunthe, Ram Prasad Rai Rural Municipality-6, Bhojpur. A total of 36 farmers from Samke and Tamalung villages have planted over 1,800 grafted apple saplings across about 100 ropanis of land.

The initiative is part of a grant program launched by the rural municipality, under which farmers received seedlings with 50 percent cost-sharing support from the ward office. Ward Chairperson Ekraj Acharya said the favorable climate and high potential for apple production have motivated farmers to pursue commercial apple farming. “There is a plan to make this area a model hub for apple production, as the geography and soil are well suited for it,” Acharya said. “Our goal is to make Baikunthe’s farmers self-reliant through commercial apple farming.”

According to Dheeraj Kumar Thakur, head of the municipality’s agriculture department, the grafted saplings, brought from Baglung, will start bearing fruit within three to four years. He added that farmers have received training on preparing organic fertilizers and pesticides, with a focus on organic farming and disease prevention in apple crops.

The municipality has also introduced a long-term Agricultural Master Plan aimed at self-reliance in agriculture by identifying and investing in suitable crops through soil testing. “We have been investing in agriculture by assessing the potential for fruit and cash crops in different areas,” said Rural Municipality Chairperson Tham Bahadur Rai.

To support production, the municipality has established humidity centers in Baikunthe (Ward 6) and Bhulke (Ward 3) for storage of agricultural produce. Alongside fruit farming, the “One House, One Tunnel” program has been launched in all wards to encourage vegetable cultivation. Officials and farmers expect that continued government investment in agriculture, coupled with the active participation of locals, will transform Baikunthe into a key center for fruit production in the region.