Mustang apple farmers face losses as transport route blocked

Apple producers in Mustang are facing significant challenges due to transport disruptions affecting the region. The Beni-Jomsom road has remained closed for a duration of one week, cutting off the primary route used to move harvested fruit out of the district. Growers across all five local levels in Mustang are currently unable to send their produce to buyers. Adverse weather conditions, including floods, landslides and river erosion, caused the damage that rendered the road impassable. Because the transport link is blocked and market access is cut off, harvested apples and fruits still on the trees have started to rot in the orchards, leaving local farmers in distress. The ongoing road closure has created severe difficulties for agricultural workers throughout Mustang district as harvest activities coincide with the transport blockages. Without a clear path to external markets, local producers watch their crops deteriorate while waiting for transport infrastructure to be cleared. Local authorities and communities continue to monitor the conditions affecting the transportation network across the five local levels. The combination of river erosion and persistent weather hazards has complicated clearance efforts along the damaged road corridors.