POKHARA: Farmers in Mustang district have sold apples worth Rs 420 million in this fiscal year.

Apple traders from Kathmandu, Pokhara, Narayanghat, Kusma, Baglung and Myagdi reached the apple growers' orchards in Mustang to purchase the apples.

The wholesale traders had purchased apples even taking trees on lease.

The retail price of a kilogramme of apples in Mustang itself is Rs 100.

According to Shiva Pujan Yadav, the planning officer at the District Agricultural Development Office, Mustang, apple production in the district has increased by nearly 16 per cent this year.

The district produced 5,300 metric tonnes apples this year from 415 hectares of land.

However, the production last year was 4,500 metric tonnes.