Kiwi farming in Nepal expanding it’s market
In Mahalaxmi Municipality-2 in Dhankuta, commercial kiwi cultivation has just begun. Kiwis are grown by every farmer in Mahalaxmi Municipality-2’s Toribari and Hilekharka. Up until recently, certain areas in this region had vegetable farms, but the majority of the land was still uncultivated. However, local Shubha Narayan Paudel stated that kiwi farming now covers the whole region. Local farmer Jangamani Paudel began growing kiwis in the community for the first time in 2010 after bringing them from Dolakha. Following then, the village’s kiwi crop slowly expanded. According to Dhrubaraj Rai, the mayor of Mahalaxmi Municipality, the municipality has been designating the region as a kiwi pocket area and offering several forms of support to entice farmers to grow kiwis.
Farmers have claimed that they are now selling kiwis for Rs. 70 to 80 per kg, when formerly they were sold for around Rs. 250 per kg. In order to consume kiwis locally, a kiwi processing plant is being constructed in Toribari village. The development of the kiwi processing business is the result of Durgamani Paudel’s initiative. He stated that on around 100 ropanis of land, he would run the business, which would include kiwi farming. He claims that around Rs. 80 million has already been invested in the sector. According to Paudel, the industry itself will consume about 300 tons of kiwis a year once it is up and running.
