How Farmers in Bihar's West Champaran Turned Scorching Heat Into a Thriving Apple Harvest

Farmers in Bihar's West Champaran district are successfully growing HRMN 99 variety apples despite temperatures soaring to 43 degrees Celsius, setting a new example in horticulture.

Growing apples in a state known for scorching summers sounds unlikely, but a group of farmers in Bihar's West Champaran district have pulled it off. Even as local temperatures climb to 43 degrees Celsius, their orchards are bearing fruit, largely thanks to the HRMN 99 variety, a strain bred specifically to survive extreme heat.

Ravikant Pandey's Rooftop Breakthrough in Bankat Musahari
For nearly three years, Ravikant Pandey, a farmer from Bankat Musahari village under Majhaulia block, has been cultivating apples. He is counted among the handful of farmers who first proved that apple cultivation could succeed in Bihar. What makes his effort stand out is that he has grown apples not just in his fields but also in a pot placed on the rooftop of his home, showing that the right variety and technique can make the fruit viable even in limited space.

Shishir Dubey's Three-Acre Orchard in Baikunthwa
In Baikunthwa village under Nautan block, farmer Shishir Dubey has also mastered apple farming. He has planted hundreds of apple saplings across roughly 3 acres of orchard, and this season the trees have produced an excellent yield. Dubey says he intends to turn apple cultivation in Bihar into a full commercial venture and hopes to establish himself as an exporter of the fruit.

Merajul Haq Joins the Movement from Bettiah
Merajul Haq, who lives at the district headquarters in Bettiah, has also taken up apple farming. He planted saplings three years ago and has nursed them ever since, and this year his orchard has begun bearing fruit as well. Seeing the large, sweet, green and red apples his trees have produced, Haq too has decided to pursue apple cultivation commercially. Beyond these three farmers, several others across the district are moving toward apple horticulture.

Why HRMN 99 Works in Hot Regions
According to the farmers, choosing the HRMN 99 variety is essential for successful apple cultivation in Bihar and other hot states across the country. Horticulture scientists developed this variety specifically to withstand the climate of warmer regions. As a result, it can develop with relative ease even in temperatures as high as 45 degrees Celsius and still reach the fruiting stage on schedule. The effort by these West Champaran farmers shows that with the right variety and the right technique, the traditional limits of farming can be pushed back.

What this means for you
• Across India: This shows that farmers in hot states can successfully grow a traditionally cold-climate fruit like apples by choosing the right variety, opening up new crop diversification and income options nationwide.
• In West Champaran: Local farmers stand to gain new income and recognition if apple cultivation here scales up into a commercial, export-oriented industry.

Questions & Answers

1. Which farmers in West Champaran are growing apples?
Ravikant Pandey, Shishir Dubey, Merajul Haq and several other farmers in the district are cultivating apples.

2. Which apple variety made this cultivation possible?
The HRMN 99 variety, which horticulture scientists developed specifically for hot regions.

3. How much heat can this variety withstand?
It can develop with relative ease and reach the fruiting stage even in temperatures up to 45 degrees Celsius.

4. How long has Ravikant Pandey been growing apples?
He has been cultivating apples for nearly three years, and has even grown them in a pot on his rooftop.

5. How big is Shishir Dubey's orchard?
He has planted hundreds of apple saplings across roughly 3 acres, which produced an excellent yield this season.

6. When did Merajul Haq plant his apple saplings?
He planted them three years ago, and this year the orchard has started bearing fruit.

7. Do these farmers plan to sell apples commercially?
Yes, both Shishir Dubey and Merajul Haq intend to turn apple farming into a commercial venture, with Dubey also aiming to become an exporter.

Inspiration & Lessons
• Question the conventional wisdom: Ravikant Pandey, Shishir Dubey and Merajul Haq refused to accept that apples could only grow in cold regions and dared to try it in hot Bihar.
• Start small, experiment boldly: Pandey even grew apples in a pot on his rooftop, proving that limited space need not stop an idea.
• Patience pays off: All three farmers waited roughly three years between planting and their first real fruiting, showing that lasting results come from sustained effort, not shortcuts.
• Knowledge is the real seed: Choosing the HRMN 99 variety, developed specifically for hot climates, underlines how the right technical information can be the difference between failure and success.
• Think beyond the harvest: Dubey and Haq are already planning to commercialise and export their apples, turning a personal experiment into a potential business.

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