TANAHUN, Feb 27: Tanahun district has produced oranges worth Rs 290 million this year. According to the Agriculture Knowledge Center, the district had produced oranges worth Rs 270 million last year.
According to Kul Prasad Tiwari, head of the Agriculture Knowledge Center, Tanahun, 6,738 metric tons of oranges were produced in the district last year. “This year, the production was 7,000 metric tons,” said Tiwari.
Out of 1,500 hectares of cultivable land in the district, 1,004 hectares of land is suitable for orange farming. Oranges produced in Tanahun are exported to Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan.
Oranges worth Rs 290 million produced in Tanahu last year
According to the Agriculture Knowledge Center, Chyachul of Ghiring Rural Municipality, Umachowk of Myagde Rural Municipality, Khanigau, Tanahusur of Vyas Municipality, Benikot, Raipur of Shuklagandaki Municipality, Bhanumati of Bhimad Municipality, Chipchipe Baide of Devghat Rural Municipality, Archaldi of Rishing Rural Municipality and Pateni of Abukhairani Rural Municipality are engaged in commercial orange farming. Tanahun is considered as one of the best places for production of oranges but in recent times, orange farmers are worried due to the diseases found in orange trees. According to experts, farmers and concerned agencies must work together for proper management of oranges.
Suk Narayan Shrestha, a local farmer of Khanigau, Myagde-2, Tanahun has sold oranges worth Rs 5 million this year. According to Shrestha, two years ago, he had sold oranges worth Rs 3.7 million.
Just like Shrestha, Biswa Bahadur Adhikari of Khanigau has sold oranges worth Rs 4 million this year and his brother Nirmal Adhikari sold oranges worth Rs 1.8 million. Orange farming in this district has helped farmers to uplift their living standard.
According to Adhikari, orange trees have died not only due to diseases but also due to lack of proper management. “Farmers must be aware about various types of diseases and treatment of the orange trees on time,” he said. Decaying of root is one of the deadly diseases in an orange tree.
According to the Agriculture Knowledge Center, Tanahun, block and pocket areas will be expanded in the district to increase the production of oranges and also conserve the existing orange trees.
According to Tiwari, four orange blocks will be established in Tanahun. “Khanigau of Myade Rural Municipality-2, Chipchipe of Devghat Rural Municipality-2, Namsikot of Shuklagandaki Municipality-11 and Benikot of Vyas Municipality-13 will have orange blocks,” he said. Orange farming carried out in 2,000 ropanis of land will construct one block.
