Tek Bahadur Tamang, a local farmer in Ramechhap Municipality-6, Okhreni, Nepal, has witnessed the flourishing of his sweet orange orchard over the past seven years. Tamang, who returned to his village after working abroad, initiated 'Aaru Kharke Agriculture and Livestock,' focusing on the commercial cultivation of sweet oranges. Starting with a modest plot, his venture now spans over seven ropanis, with this year's harvest promising a substantial increase in revenue compared to the previous year.
The region has seen a growing enthusiasm among farmers for sweet orange cultivation. Himal Tamang, another farmer in Okhreni, shares a similar story of returning from abroad and embarking on sweet orange farming. With an orchard covering 15 ropanis and plans for expansion, he anticipates a significant rise in production and sales this year.
Ramechhap Municipality-6, Okhreni, has been designated as a Junar Zone, aiming to boost the cultivation of sweet oranges. This initiative has paid off, with an estimated production of 4,536 tons of sweet oranges in the zone this year alone. The absence of diseases and pests has contributed to the optimistic outlook for a further increase in production.
Thirlal Gaire, chief of the Prime Minister Agricultural Modernisation Project in Ramechhap, highlighted the commercial cultivation of sweet oranges and other citrus fruits across 540 hectares in the Junar Zone. With an estimated yield of 14 tons per hectare, the region expects to produce sweet oranges worth $1,664,000 this year. The cultivation extends to several areas within Ramechhap Municipality and Manthali Municipality, with the Agricultural Development Office and local governments providing support to farmers through technical assistance, subsidies, and market management.
The concerted efforts in Ramechhap for the cultivation of sweet oranges and other citrus fruits cover more than 1,323 hectares, indicating a thriving agricultural sector with potential for further growth.
Source: The Rising Nepal