Ramechhap Pomegranate Cultivation By Mr Heera Acharya 2009

Pomegranate fruit production in Ramechhap: a pictorial Harihar Adhikari Senior Agriculture Development Officer District Agriculture Development Office, Ramechhap [email protected] Tel 977-048-540063 Fax 977 -048-540308

Mr Heera Acharya has initiate d pomegranate orchard since 2003, and now he owns 51 plants aged 3-6 years. Against pomegranate butterfly, the most damaging fruit insect, he bags all fruits using local newspaper, at an age after pollination. Rainfall and wind does not damage the bags, and the bags dont harm fruit development. A single fruit weighs 400-700 grams on an average, a mature plant gives 3050 kgs fruit, and bears 100-150 fruits per plant. Mature fruits can be stored for up to 45-60 days without deterioration. Fruits are sold at Rs 100-130/kgs in Ramechhap and Manthali. FM stations in Dolakha (Hamro Radio) air one hour Friday morning program between 9-10, which has created public awareness about the fruit in the near by districts. He claims earning Rs 100000/per year.

Mr Heera Acharya, His orchard and house at Sunarpani, Ramechhap

Fruit bagging against butterfly

Fruit bagging against pomegranate butterfly

A junior technician of DADO, Mr Shiva Narayan Ran observes orchard, accompanied by the owner

Mr Heera displayes 5 fruit cluster per inflorescense Sapling production nursary in front of house door

A cloth advertisement board about Pomegranate Nursary and Resource Perso n nearby road to Salu.

Mr. Harihar Adhikari and Dinesh Chandra Yadav had visited the orchard on 2061 BS and had suggested to commercialise his orchard.