By Kokila Dhakal, Ilam, Dec. 3: It is the main season for selling kiwifruit. Farmers in Ilam are now busy picking and selling the fruit.

Farmers in Ilam, Panchthar, Taplejung, Bhojpur, Okhaldhunga and other hilly districts said that they were making a good income from kiwi.

As a result, the farmers in the eastern hills have, of late, started giving more importance to kiwi farming than other cash crops.

Lila Bhattarai, a farmer of Sandakpur Rural Municipality in Ilam, said that the production of kiwi was better last year. However, the yield declined this year because of hailstorm and he sold only 12 quintals. 

"We have planted kiwis in 12 ropanis of land. Despite the decline in production this year, the market price has been good and the kiwi has helped us financially," said Bhattarai.

Ganga Bista, another farmer from Sankhejung, is also busy harvesting kiwi.

Bista, who sold 50 quintals of kiwi last year, has also seen a decline in production this year.

"I have estimated that about 30 quintals will be produced this year," Bista said.

Bista said, "Kiwifruits of bigger size go to Kathmandu and smaller ones are supplied to the kiwi wine factory in Rajarani, Dhankuta."

Bista said that the farmers got relief from the increased price of kiwi when the production has fallen.

The attraction of farmers towards kiwi farming is increasing now as it is easier to cultivate the fruit and requires less labour than in other crops, Bista said.

Farmer Taramani Khatiwada of Sulubung, who has been cultivating kiwi for the past 15 years, has already sold 30 quintals of kiwi produced in his own garden and purchased from others.

"The wholesale price of kiwi is up to Rs. 150 per kg and the retail price is Rs. 200 per kg," said Khatiwada.

"This is the main season for consumers to eat kiwi." According to him, the market is good as kiwis are now used by consumers in all religious activities and other purposes.

Framers in Ilam grow green and red kiwis. Red kiwis are harvested in August-September and green in November-December.

However, he said that the farmers were facing problems in the lack of insurance programme for kiwi farming.

The insurance companies often denied insuring our crop, he added.

“Overall kiwi production in Nepal has increased by 25 per cent this year. However, production of kiwi has decreased in Ilam due to the hailstorm,” he said.

 Khatiwada, who is also the director of Hesti Kiwi Pvt. Ltd. in Sulubung, said, "If the government helps insure kiwi farming, it will be a big help for the farmers."

According to the Agriculture Knowledge Centre Ilam, kiwi farmers have suffered a loss of Rs. 47.8 million this year.

The government has also started the 'Kiwi Zone' programme after the attraction of the farmers in kiwi farming increased.

The programme is underway by declaring Ward Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 of Ilam Municipality as Kiwi Zone in a 10-year project started under the Prime Minister Agriculture Modernisation Project.

The project has said that the budget received for the project is being spent on technical skills, efficiency, quality enhancement of kiwi and expansion of cultivation areas.