In Maharashtra's Vidarbha region, Nagpur is renowned for its production of high-quality mandarin oranges. However, the sector faces a myriad of challenges that jeopardize the livelihoods of local farmers. Environmental shifts, alongside financial and logistical hurdles, have impacted the sustainability of orange farming in the area. The advent of climate change introduces heightened temperatures during summer, exerting stress on the orange trees, and impairing their growth, flowering, and fruit-bearing capabilities. Heatwaves can result in premature fruit drop, and in extreme cases, complete crop failure, posing severe financial risks for farmers dependent on orange cultivation.
Gopal Suryabhanji Bhakte, a consultant for orange growers, highlighted the dire consequences of rising temperatures on citrus farming to Down To Earth, emphasizing the potential decline in the region's orange production viability. Unpredictable weather patterns, including cloudy skies, unseasonal rains, and irregular seasons, disrupt the flowering and fruiting timings, while sudden heavy rainfall can lead to soil erosion and nutrient leaching, weakening the trees and increasing their susceptibility to pests. The escalation in temperatures and erratic weather has also intensified pest infestations and diseases, with new threats like the Citrus psylla spreading 'citrus greening' disease, rendering the fruit bitter and unsellable.
Source: DownToEarth