Constraints in deciduous fruit development in Nepal - Agronomic constraints

Lack of quality planting materials, mineral fertilizers, and incidence of economically important insect pests and diseases are the most important agronomic constraints to fruit cultivation in Nepal.

It is estimated that more than 270,000 deciduous fruit plants are needed annually. The majority of the nursery plants produced in the country are of inferior quality and not true to type. Most of the private nurseries do not maintain quality mother stock and standard rootstocks. Plants produced in the private nurseries are generally of sub-standard and not healthy.

Another important constraint to fruit production in this country is the incidence of economically important insect pests and diseases. For example, woolly aphis, San Jose Scale of apple, and defoliating beetles of pear and peach, and diseases such as apple scab, pink disease of apple, pear decline, peach leaf curl and foot rot are commonly found.