Nepal A, Shah S, and Rai R, 2025. Factors for the consideration to the establishment of commercial fruit orchards in the mid-hills of Nepal. Trends in Animal and Plant Sciences 6: 23-34. https://doi.org/10.62324/TAPS/2025.077

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The mid-hill of Nepal has favorable agro-climatic conditions for temperate fruits like apple, pear, peach, plum, apricot, kiwi, walnut, etc. Despite their high potential, commercial orchards in the region often fail to deliver expected returns due to poor planning, limited technical knowledge, and weak market linkages. The objective of this study is to comprehensively review the major factors influencing the successful establishment and sustainability of commercial fruit orchards in mid-hill regions of Nepal. This review synthesizes information from secondary sources, including government reports, journals, extension manuals, articles, and technical reports. The fruit crops information was compared to highlight crop-specific requirements, management practices, and value-chain opportunities. The findings from the review reveal that the success of an orchard depends on matching crop choice with climate and soil suitability, adopting appropriate rootstocks, and designing the orchard with appropriate spacing, irrigation, and drainage. For long-term productivity, training, pruning, canopy management, and integrated pest and disease management are critical. Harvesting at the proper time and maturity indices, appropriate handling, and storage can reduce post-harvest losses. Furthermore, market research, value addition through processing and product diversification, and branding are equally important for enhancing returns. This study highlights the need for a holistic approach that integrates technical practices with market and value-chain planning, convincing the audience of its effectiveness in realizing the full potential of temperate fruit orchards in the mid-hills of Nepal.