SATV Mar. 10, Kathmandu: Oranges worth Rs. 100 million have been sold from Gorkha district this year.

Due to decline in production, income from the sale of oranges has declined this year as compared to last year in the district, according to Purna Dhungana, chief of the Prime Minister Agriculture Modernsiation Project, Project Unit, Gorkha.

Last year, oranges worth Rs. 135 million had been sold from the district.

There are various reasons for the decline in orange production in Gorkha this year, he said.

"One is that diseases have occurred in the plant. Another is that, due to decline in animal husbandry, compost manure has been unavailable which led to decrease in production," he said.

Besides, production has also decreased this year due to drought in winter and lack of irrigation facilities, he said.

Despite the decline in orange production this year, farmers have received good prices. 

This year, farmers have sold their oranges taking to Gorkha, Pokhara, Chitwan and Kathmandu themselves instead of selling to the contractors, he said.

Farmers have sold oranges ranging from Rs. 90 to Rs. 150 per kg this year.

Last year, 2,300 tonnes of oranges were produced, but this year only 1,800 tonnes of oranges were produced in the district. 

The office has been implementing the old orchard management programme to increase orange production. 

Under this, 50 per cent subsidy has been provided for micronutrients, pesticides and organic fertilisers, said Dhungana. Shahid Lakhan Rural Municipality-2, 4, 5 and 6, which produce the most oranges in the district, are cultivating oranges on about 1,000 hectares of land. 

In addition, orange is being cultivated in around 1,200 hectares of land in wards 1, 3, 4 and 5 of Gorkha Municipality, 2, 4 and 6 wards of Gandaki Rural Municipality, 6 and 3 wards of Bhimsen Thapa Rural Municipality, and 9 and 10 wards of Palungtar Municipality.

The office has provided agricultural inputs to the farmers with 85 per cent subsidy, he said.

Dhruba Khanan, a farmer who has been cultivating oranges in Shahid Lakhan Rural Municipality-4, said, "If the Prime Minister Agriculture Modernisation Project, Gorkha provides necessary skilled technicians in a timely manner and provides the necessary fertiliser and irrigation facilities, orange production will increase."