A plan has been made to increase commercial apple production in Niseldhor, located in the southern part of the Dhorpatan Valley. The local level, the Agricultural Knowledge Center and other bodies in the agricultural sector have made the necessary investments here.

Niseldhor in Nisikhola Rural Municipality-5 is fertile land for agricultural production. Local Suman Ghartimagar said that the construction of an apple orchard has begun in Niseldhor, which is home to about 400 households. ‘We have all been doing agriculture and animal husbandry,’ he said. We have started planting apples for commercial production in the last three to four years.’ He said that the plan is to plant apples in households, which were planted by only a few farmers in the beginning.

There are hundreds of apple trees here, including those planted traditionally. He said that Nisikhola Rural Municipality is also on the verge of reaching the stage of commercial production after distributing Fuji and Golden apple seedlings four years ago. Farmers are happy after the seedlings planted three years ago started bearing fruit. Rural Municipality Agriculture Technician Tara Bahadur Pariyar said that the taste of the apples here is also delicious.

Farmers who are increasing production are looking for a market for sale. A small amount of the production is being sold easily in the nearby market. Local Goman Nepali said that the market needs to be expanded after the seedlings planted last year also grew. There are 400 large and 100 new apple trees in Gharti's garden alone. Local Mitra Bahadur Gharti, Goman Nepali and others said that they have also started growing apples. Farmers said that they grade and sell apples for up to Rs 100 per kg during the season. Suman alone sold 24 quintals of apples last year and said that it will increase now.

Last year, 5 tractors, or 150 quintals of potatoes, were also sold from his garden. They lack roads to sell those goods. Since it was not possible to reach Nisikhola directly, the Nepalis complained that it cost a lot to send it to Burtiwang via Dhorpatan and Bobang. However, the Nepalis said that farming can be increased to produce hundreds of quintals of apples and potatoes in Nisikhola. Local farmers have said that technical assistance, treatment of diseases and pests, and marketing support are needed for that.

Nisikhola Rural Municipality had planted 1,050 seedlings brought from Italy in Arnakot of Ward 2 and Nisikhola in Ward 5. The municipality provided the seedlings with a 50 percent subsidy, and the farmers said that they invested. 'Golden' and 'Gala' varieties of apples grow well here. If Fuji gives good production, the municipality aims to make Fujimaya by removing old plants,' said Chairman Surya Bahadur Gharti, 'Investment in the agricultural sector will support production and income generation for years.' These plants have been planted in a geography ranging from 2,600 meters to 3,500 meters above sea level. As the plants grow, farmers have also started planting barbanjed.