Farmers happy from earning of sweet orange farming

By Our Correspondent,Ramechhap, Dec. 8: Tek Bahadur Tamang's orchard in Ramechhap Municipality-6, Okhreni, is currently covered with ripe sweet oranges (junar).

Tamang has been engaged in the commercial cultivation of sweet oranges for the past seven years. 

Tamang, after working abroad for a few years returned to his own village. He registered an agriculture firm named 'Aaru Kharke Agriculture and Livestock' three years ago and is engaged in the commercial cultivation of sweet oranges in his own village.

He said that sweet orange farming, which started with a small amount of land, has now expanded to more than seven ropanis.  The harvest of sweet oranges is better this year compared to previous years. He said, "Last year, I sold sweet oranges worth Rs. 50,000. This year, I think I would be able to sell sweet oranges worth Rs. 100,000."

According to him, the production of sweet oranges will increase gradually in the coming years as the orchard is in the process of expansion. Himal Tamang of Okhreni is excited, estimating that his sweet orange production will double this year. 

He has been active in commercial sweet orange farming since 2017 after returning to his village after working in India for 25 years.  He said that sweet orange production is expected to double this year compared to last year. 

He said, “Last year, I sold sweet oranges worth Rs. 250,000. This year, I think I would be able to sell sweet oranges worth Rs. 450,000."

He said that his sweet orange orchard currently spans in the area of 15 ropanis and preparations are underway to expand it to another 7 ropanis. 

Farmers of Ramechhap Municipality-6, Okhreni are happy after the production is better this year compared to the previous years. 

Farmers who were worried due to the outbreak of the Chinese citrus flies in the past few years, have been excited with the reduction in the impact of insects. Likewise, the production has increased in the last two years.

The Ramechhap Municipality-6, Okhreni and other places have been developed as Junar Zone areas to encourage farmers engaged in sweet orange and orange cultivation. 

This year, it is estimated that 4,536 tonnes of sweet oranges will be produced in the Junar Zone area alone. 

The sweet orange production is also expected to increase as no diseases or pests have been seen in the sweet orange orchards this year.

Thirlal Gaire, chief of the Prime Minister Agricultural Modernisation Project, Project Implementation Unit, Ramechhap, said that sweet orange production is expected to increase by 4 per cent this year compared to last year's production.

Around 4,050 tonnes of sweet oranges were produced only in the Junar Zone area.

He said, "Currently, commercial cultivation of sweet oranges and other citrus fruits is being carried out in 540 hectares of land under the Junar Zone area of Ramechhap. This year, it is estimated that around 14 tonnes of junar will be produced per hectare.  Even if farmers sell at Rs. 50 per kilo, it is estimated that sweet oranges worth Rs. 226 million will be produced this year.”

Sweet oranges and other citrus fruits are being cultivated in places like Okhreni, Gaitar, Sukajor, Ramechhap, Rampur, Himganga in Ramechhap Municipality and Salu, Sunarpani, Deurali, Bhaluwajor, Puranagaun, Phulasi in Manthali Municipality.

The Agricultural Development Office and the Prime Minister Agricultural Modernisation Project, Project Implementation Unit and local governments have also been providing free technical assistance to farmers, subsidies on irrigation, seedlings, pesticides and 50 to 75 per cent support in market management. According to the statistics of the Agricultural Development Office, Ramechhap, sweet oranges, oranges and other citrus fruits are cultivated on more than 1,323 hectares of land in Ramechhap.