Apple cultivation is changing the lives of rice farmers in Nepal

Jumla is one of the 75 districts of Nepal, located in the Karnali Zone. In this remote Karnali region, apple production has recently taken off among the Jumla growers. Farmers started growing apples to secure their income after local rivers began to erode their paddy fields during the rainy season. About ten years ago, the fields were still full of rice plants, but these have now been replaced by apple orchards. "We were able to plant other crops to stop the erosion of the river, but apple trees have not only stopped the erosion, but also generated enough income, almost double what it was before," said one grower. "However, it took four years for their ...