A windstorm accompanied by rainfall has damaged 80 of approximately 400 plastic tunnels used for commercial vegetable cultivation in Thulolumphek, Gulmi district, Nepal.
According to Ward Chairperson Jit Bahadur Tramu Magar, strong winds tore the plastic coverings, damaging tomato crops and other vegetables, including cabbage, cauliflower, beans, cucumbers, bell peppers and bitter gourds.
Each tunnel yields approximately 400 to 500 kilograms of tomatoes. Magar estimated tomato losses at more than US$5,700. Local market prices range from US$0.36 to US$0.43 per kilogram, while wholesale prices range from US$0.25 to US$0.29 per kilogram.
Vegetables from the area are marketed locally and transported to Butwal. However, monsoon-related road disruptions have forced growers to use an alternative route, adding approximately one hour to reach the collection centre.
Satyawati Rural Municipality has rented a shop at Butwal's Agricultural Produce and Vegetable Wholesale Market for the past three years to facilitate sales.
The municipality also provides cultivation-based subsidies of approximately US$0.014 per kilogram to growers and US$0.14 per quintal to groups managing produce.
Source - https://www.freshplaza.com
