LAMJUNG: A project has been launched in Manang district with an aim to make it independent in apple production.

The recent surge of interest among apple entrepreneurs has encouraged the Agro Manang Pvt Ltd to launch the project with an investment of Rs 180 million.

The project has planned to produce 1.5 million kilos of apples within next five years.

Palten Chhopnag Gurung, Director of the company, said that the company started the project by planting 50,000 saplings of apples in 735 hectares of land.

The financial situation of the district will also increase after the independence in apple production, informed Krishna Prasad Dhital, Local Development Officer of District Development Committee.

Earlier, apples produced in the district would waste because of lack of transportation.

However, the construction of the new route from Beshisahar, headquarters of Lamjung district, to Chame, headquarters of Manang district, has created hope among the locals about availability of market for their production.