Mustang’s apple farmers are facing significant losses as the Beni-Jomsom road, a critical artery connecting Myagdi and Mustang districts in Gandaki Province, remains blocked by landslides and floods. Over 80% of the region’s apple harvest is currently stranded, with many apples rotting on trees or in storage, jeopardizing the annual income of hundreds of farmers.
The Beni-Jomsom road has been severely affected by continuous rainfall, floods, and landslides between October 5 and 8, 2026, causing obstructions at 55 locations. Ten of these locations saw significant road sections washed away by the Kaligandaki River. Despite ongoing repair efforts, the road was completely blocked again today, Wednesday, October 7, 2026, by a fresh landslide at Baisari in Raghuganga Rural Municipality-2, Myagdi.
Farmers plead for urgent road repairs
The road closure comes at a crucial time for apple sales, particularly before the Dashain festival. Neeraj Tulachan, operator of IPM Apple Farm in Tukucha, Thasang Rural Municipality-1, expressed deep concern. “We pick the apples, but there’s no way to get them to market,” Tulachan said, highlighting the dilemma faced by farmers whose year-long efforts are at risk. “The worry about how to manage the apples in this situation is growing.”
Farmers from all five local levels of Mustang are experiencing similar hardships. Kancha Gurung, a farmer from Tiri, Waragung Muktikshetra Rural Municipality-4, stated that over 80% of Mustang’s apples are still awaiting transport to market. While some apples were dispatched before Teej, a large volume remains in orchards. Gurung also warned of a potential price crash if the road reopens and a massive quantity of apples floods the market simultaneously.
Yonten Gurung, a farmer from Dhumba, Gharpajhong Rural Municipality-5, urged the Beni-Jomsom-Korala Road Project to accelerate repair work. He emphasized that the road’s obstruction is not only impacting Mustang’s tourism but also its vital agricultural sector. Narbu Gurung, another farmer from Tiri, Waragung Muktikshetra Rural Municipality-4, reported that traditional apple varieties are ripening and falling from trees due to the inability to transport them. He added that five trucks of picked apples are at risk of rotting due to the road blockade and related electricity transmission issues.
Extensive damage and repair efforts
The 202-kilometer Beni-Jomsom-Korala road project, which began two-lane blacktopping and gravelling in the fiscal year 2073/074 (2016/17 AD), has suffered extensive damage. The Kaligandaki River’s erosion has destroyed significant sections of the road in Raghuganga Rural Municipality-2 and 3. The Road Department has estimated an initial cost of Rs 3 billion for the reconstruction of the damaged sections.
To address the crisis, the Road Department and construction contractors have mobilized 15 excavators, 12 tippers, and 15 loaders, along with a significant workforce. Drones are also being utilized to transport fuel to remote areas, with 400 liters of diesel delivered across cut-off sections in six flights by Monday, October 5, 2026. Farmers and traders from all five local levels of Mustang had met with Chief District Officer Ajita Sharma on Monday, October 5, 2026, to demand the immediate reopening of the road.
The road’s closure has also affected trade, with approximately 500 containers stalled in the Korala area and an additional 200 containers stuck along various road sections. The Korala border, crucial for trade with China due to the closure of the Rasuwa and Tatopani checkpoints, is a high priority for the government to reopen swiftly.
Market impact and future outlook
The road blockade has caused significant fluctuations in Mustang apple prices. While Mustang apples were listed at Rs 130 to Rs 160 per kilogram by the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetable Market Development Committee on September 23, 2026, they were selling for around Rs 400 per kilogram in the market. However, with the road blocked, the market price for Mustang apples dropped to Rs 200 to Rs 250 per kilogram today, October 7, 2026.
Mustang has seen increasing investment and effort in apple farming. In 2082 BS (2025/26 AD), high-density apple production increased by about 10% from the previous year, reaching 1,375 metric tons. In 2081 BS (2024/25 AD), Mustang produced approximately 7,330 metric tons of apples, exporting over Rs 920 million worth of produce. Climate change and rising average temperatures have even enabled apple cultivation at altitudes up to 4,000 meters in Upper Mustang.
Tejaswi Sharma, chief of the Beni-Jomsom-Korala Road Project, stated that repair work is progressing rapidly on a 12-kilometer stretch from Kunauta in Raghuganga Rural Municipality-2, Myagdi, to Pokharebagar, the center of Annapurna Rural Municipality. He anticipates that vehicles will be able to operate on this section by next Monday, October 12, 2026. Similarly, Narendra Subedi, chief of the Federal Road Supervision Project Pokhara, aims to complete road repairs within this week.
Uncertainties remain
The total economic loss incurred by Mustang’s apple farmers due to the road blockade is not yet precisely known. Furthermore, the government’s concrete long-term plans to address the recurring problem of the Beni-Jomsom road’s frequent obstructions remain unclear.
