G.P. Shrestha^1*, R. Manandhar²,Y.K. Shrestha³ and C.M. Shrestha⁴

Freelance Senior Horticulturist.Corresponding Author
²Chief,National Centre for Fruit Development,Kirtipur
³Sr. Horticulture Development Officer,National Centre for Fruit Development,Kirtipur
⁴Sr. Horticulture Development Officer Horticulture Centre,Phaplu,Solukhumbu
 
^*Corresponding email:gopalpshrestha@yahoo.com
 

Abstract

Fruit crops are considered high value crops in Nepal.Fruit crops’ contribution to AGDP is 5.38% (MoALD,2019).The diversity in agro-ecological environment has given a good opportunity of growing many fruit crops with the country’s comparative advantage of import substitution and export promotion.However looking into the prospects and potentialities of fruit production,the marketed volume of almost all fruit crops is very low.Quality of the fruits produced is poor and postharvest loss is high.Postharvest facilities are very much limited and markets are not well organized.Value Chain of fruit crops is very weak and functional linkage among value chain actors is very poor.Completion of High Value Agriculture Project in Hill and Mountain Areas (HVAP) in value chain approach has demonstrated a successful implementation of value chain approach in seven targeted high value commodities including apple in fruit crops.The value chain of each fruits should be strengthened in every aspects of value chain functions.This paper has also tried to present a case of apple value chain as experienced in HVAP.

Keywords:comparative advantage,import substitution,export promotion,linkage