Syangja produces oranges worth Rs. 1.32 billion

By Arjun Kafle,Syangja, Jan. 3: Syangja, the country’s leading district in orange production, has produced oranges worth Rs. 1.32 billion in the current fiscal year.

Oranges have been cultivated on 2,400 hectares of land in the district, of which 1,420 hectares are currently fruit-bearing. About 23,238 tonnes of oranges were produced this year. 

At an average market price of Rs. 57 per kilogram, the total production value amounts to Rs. 1.32 billion.

According to the Orange Super Zone, Syangja, under the National Agriculture Modernisation Project, this year’s production value is Rs. 200 million higher than that of the previous fiscal year. 

While oranges were cultivated on 2,250 hectares last year, the area under cultivation has expanded by 200 hectares this fiscal year.

The favourable climatic conditions, expansion of cultivated land, and an increase in the number of fruit-bearing trees have contributed to the rise. 

Chief of Orange Super Zone, Syangja, Ajay Adhikari, said the productivity has increased as there was no hailstorm during the flowering and fruiting seasons and no outbreak of diseases or pests.

Of the total production, 10 per cent—equivalent to 2,356 tonnes—is consumed within the district, while the remaining 20,882 tonnes are supplied to markets across the country, according to the Orange Super Zone Office.

The oranges produced in Syangja are mainly supplied to Pokhara, Kathmandu, Chitwan and Butwal. However, fewer oranges were sent to Butwal this year due to cold weather conditions.

Adhikari said orange production in Syangja is expected to increase further in the coming years as more trees reach the fruit-bearing stage and orange farming continues to expand annually if the weather remains favourable.

Although commercial orange farming is practiced in all 11 local units of Syangja, Putalibazar, Bhirkot, Waling, and Galyang municipalities, as well as Arjunchaupari Rural Municipality, have been designated as pocket areas. 

Similarly, Phedikhola, Aandhikhola, and Biruwa rural municipalities have been declared new pocket areas to expand orange cultivation, according to Bodhraj Aryal, chairperson of the Orange Super Zone Implementation Committee.

Local farmers earn anywhere from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 5.5 million per household annually from orange farming. 

Orange trees begin yielding fruit within five years of planting, while grafted saplings start bearing fruit within three years.