Apple farmers across Mustang are facing mounting losses after the Beni-Jomsom road remained blocked for a week, disrupting the transport of harvested fruit to market. Floods, landslides and river cutting have left farmers unable to move their apples out of the district.
The delay has put the harvest at risk. Farmers say apples are ripening, falling and rotting on the trees while they wait for access to markets. Producers across all five local levels of Mustang, many of them busy picking apples, have expressed distress over being unable to sell their produce.
Road blockage disrupts apple sales
The Beni-Jomsom road is a key route for taking Mustang’s apples to market. With the road blocked, harvested apples cannot be transported, leaving farmers with few options as the fruit continues to ripen.
The prolonged disruption is affecting farmers throughout the district at a critical point in the picking season. Apples left on trees are falling or deteriorating, adding to concerns among growers who cannot send their produce to buyers.
