Tanahun farmers earn Rs. 455 million from orange, income up by Rs. 35 million

By Amar Raj Naharki,Tanahun, Feb. 8:  Farmers in Tanahun have earned about of Rs. 455 million from the sale of orange this year. The income of the farmers of the districts from the sale of orange has increased by Rs. 35 million this year than last year. Last year, farmers had made income of Rs. 420 million from orange.

According to the Agriculture Development Office, Tanahun, the expansion of orange cultivation, increased production, and assured markets have led to a significant improvement in farmers’ income.

Out of a total area of 1,670 hectares under orange cultivation in the district, only 977 hectares are currently being produced, said Kiran Pariyar, Crop Protection Officer and Information Officer of the Agriculture Development Office, Tanahun. 

According to him, a total of 11,821 tonnes of oranges were produced this year. Out of this, 5,822 tonnes were sold, generating the transaction value of Rs. 455 million.

Various areas of Aanbukhaireni, Devghat, Bhimad, Myagde, Rishing, Bandipur, Ghiring, Vyas and Shuklagandaki municipalities are recognised as pocket areas for orange cultivation. As orange farming has started yielding good income, farmers’ attraction toward it has increased rapidly.

This achievement at the district level is confirmed by the experience of farmers from Myagde Rural Municipality-2, Umachowk. 

Farmer of Myagde Rural Municipality-2, Umachowk Bishwa Bahadur Adhikari, has sold oranges worth about Rs. 10 million this year. 

He shared that although he was previously limited to traditional farming, orange cultivation has now emerged as a new source of income for him.

Another farmer from the same place, Shuk Narayan Shrestha, has also sold oranges worth Rs. 8 million this year. Shrestha said that there is no problem in the market as traders come to the orchards to buy oranges.

Most of the oranges produced in Tanahun are purchased by traders from Damauli, Pokhara, and Kathmandu. 

As traders directly visit orchards to buy oranges, farmers do not face market shortages for selling their produce. 

Under the Citrus Fruit Development Programme, the Agriculture Development Office has been implementing programmes such as free sapling distribution to farmers, support for digging pits to expand cultivation into new areas, construction of irrigation ponds, and subsidies for purchasing unnecessary branch cutting machines.

In addition, on-site practical training on disease and pest management in oranges, along with the distribution of necessary equipment, has been provided to encourage farmers toward commercial farming, said Pariyar.