For a farmer, who has been doing a substantial farming and animal husbandry, the concept of kiwi fruit farming (a Chinese Gooseberry) would be a new phenomenon in Nepal. This fruit is known to most Nepalis, but the prospects of a better earning are higher from kiwi fruit farming. This fruit is cultivable from the elevation of 1,000 to 2,500 meters from the sea level. It can be consumed as a fresh fruit, in the form of juice, jam, and wine. Among Soyou, Monty, Tomuri, Abbott, Hayward, and Bruno, Hayward kiwi fruit is popular among Nepali farmers.
Kiwi fruit pioneer in Nepal Dr Surya Prasad Pandey and Dinesh K Sigdel, chair of Bhotechaur Agricultural Organic Village Pvt Ltd, say this fruit can add much more to the Nepali farmers to raise their living standard. They highlight that nearly 30 percent of land in Nepal is suitable for kiwi plantation.
Kiwi fruit brings prosperity to farmers
A farmer can plant 20 kiwi vines in a ropani land. South face areas with adequate irrigation facilities is suitable. Loamy soil is best preferred soil for kiwi fruit plantation. The kiwi vine matures after five years and yields 50-80 kg kiwi fruits every year, at least for the forty years, and a kg kiwi fruit can be sold in Rs 400 to 800 depending on the quality and size of the fruit. In this sense, the farmer can earn almost forty to forty five thousand rupees from a kiwi vine in a year. The commercial kiwi fruit farming may raise the living standard of the farmer that is almost impossible for them with substantial farming and traditional animal husbandry.
It is very nutritious and different researches on the healthy benefit of kiwi fruit show that regular intake of a kiwi fruit keeps a person away from the diseases like diabetes, heart related diseases, Colon Health, Muscular Degeneration, obesity, and Asthma. Everyone can savor this fruit regardless of their age. This fruit is more beneficial to pregnant women and the price of kiwi is higher than other fruits because of its rich nutritional values.
Nothing is impossible for striving hands. If done commercially, kiwi farming not only will benefit the farmers, but it can also be the benchmark for uplifting the nation’s economy. Nepali kiwi fruit can be exported to international markets since it is highly demanded. It can help create employment opportunity for youths who leave their motherland in search of jobs.
If given proper training, access to technology and prior knowledge of the fruit’s cultivation, Nepali farmers have the capacity to turn desert into a land of plenty.
