We are thrilled to share with you the success story of our recent collaboration with farmers in the high hills of Upper Bokkim in Bhojpur district, Nepal. Mandala Agrifresh has been working to connect farmers with distant markets, and we are proud to have achieved this goal with our latest project.

Broad leaf mustard, known locally as rayo ko saag, is a popular leafy green in Nepal. However, the farmers in Upper Bokkim faced challenges in transporting their produce to markets in Kathmandu due to the short shelf life of the produce. But thanks to the introduction of Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) bags, we were able to help these farmers reach new markets.

MAP bags are designed to control the atmosphere inside the bags and maintain the freshness of produce, which extends its shelf life. Our MAP bags can reduce weight loss in leafy greens by more than 600% and increase the shelf-life of leafy green vegetables by more than 3 times under ambient conditions. We provided these bags to the farmers and trained them on proper packaging and transport methods. The farmers carefully packed their freshly harvested mustard greens into the MAP bags and placed them in cardboard boxes for transport.

The impact of MAP bags was significant, reducing weight loss, wilting, and spoilage during the two-day journey to Kathmandu. As a result, the farmers were able to transport their produce without any spoilage, and the quality of the produce was maintained. This success led to positive feedback from buyers in Kathmandu, impressed by the quality and taste of the produce.

The use of MAP bags also had a positive impact on the profitability of the farmers. With the ability to keep their produce fresh for longer, they were able to sell it at a higher price in Kathmandu, making a greater profit. For the first time, the farmers of Bhojpur were successful in selling their fresh broad leaf mustard in Kathmandu, opening up new opportunities for them to earn a better income and improve their livelihoods.

At Mandala Agrifresh, we are committed to introducing technologies like MAP bags to farmers in rural areas and building a more sustainable agriculture supply chain in Nepal. This trial has shown that the use of MAP bags is a game-changer for connecting farmers with distant markets, extending the shelf life of fresh vegetables, improving the profitability of farmers, and reducing food waste.

We are proud to have supported the farmers in Bhojpur, and we look forward to continuing our efforts to create a more sustainable agriculture supply chain in Nepal.