Ramite in Morang emerges as orange pocket area

By Hari Prasad Koirala,Urlabari, Nov. 17: Santosh Rai of Miklajung Rural Municipality-1, Jyamire in northern Morang is currently cultivating oranges in his garden.  After returning to Nepal in 2013, following three years of employment abroad, he planned to cultivate oranges commercially in his village. 

Twelve years ago, a few villagers had planted one or two orange saplings each, but no one had attempted commercial farming.  At that time, there was no road access to Ramite; people had to walk from Madhumalla and Tandi to reach the area.

Despite the difficulties, Rai brought 200 orange saplings from Paripatle in Dhankuta and planted them in his garden. Of the 200 saplings planted 11 years ago, around 150 are now bearing fruit, and Rai has been earning income for the past seven years.

Rai, who started orange farming with the intention of not going abroad again, is now cultivating on two levels—cardamom on the lower land and oranges on the upper hillside in the same field. 

He believes that by combining different agricultural activities, one does not need to go abroad to earn a living.

He said, “Last year, I sold oranges worth Rs. 450,000. The income from lemons and cardamom is even higher. This year, production has slightly decreased.” Last year, oranges were sold at Rs. 100 per kg. Early this year, traders visited the village and offered Rs. 125 per kg. 

Rai said he has no worries about market demand, as whatever is produced in the village gets sold. According to him, he planted an additional 400 orange saplings last year. He has now planted oranges on 10 ropanis of land and cardamom on an equal area.

So far, he has invested only Rs. 300,000 in orange cultivation. He added that there are no major expenses in orange farming apart from purchasing the saplings.  “Except for cow dung, no chemical fertilisers have been used. Diseases appear from time to time, and treatment needs to be done then,” he said.

Following Santosh’s success in agriculture, Nara Bahadur Rai and Juddha Bahadur Rai have also started orange farming in the village.

Not only them, but Khagendra Rai of Kyamune has planted 100 orange saplings, Tilak Singh Rai of Dhurpa planted 150, and Vijay Rai of Kholenkha planted 100 saplings.

According to Parbat Rai of Miklajung Rural Municipality, Ramite—located 22 kilometres north of Urlabari-3 Kisan Chowk on the East–West Highway—has now become a hub of 

agricultural production. 

“After the road from Kisan Chowk to Ramite was blacktopped, farmers are more encouraged to expand cultivation,” he said.

“Previously, they had to carry their produce on their backs to the market. Now, vehicles reach every village. We have supported farmers with irrigation for vegetables and cash crops,” he added.

He said that even though production has increased, there is no problem with market access.