1. Introduction to Orange Farming in Nepal
Citrus cultivation in Nepal traces its roots to centuries of hill agriculture, when farmers first planted orange saplings along terraced slopes. Over time, oranges have evolved from a subsistence crop to a commercial commodity supporting thousands of households.
Nepal’s diverse altitude—ranging from 800 to 1,800 meters—creates ideal environments for oranges, particularly in districts such as Sindhuli, Dhankuta, Bhojpur, Syangja, Lamjung, Dailekh, Ramechhap, Makwanpur and Gorkha. Among these, Sindhuli’s Junar has become nationally recognized for its sweetness and aroma.
Oranges contribute significantly to household income, rural employment, and local market vibrancy, making it an important crop for sustainable hill development.
2. Climate and Ecological Requirements
Oranges thrive in environments where science and nature meet harmoniously. Nepal’s mid-hills provide that harmony:
Temperature: 15°C to 30°C
Altitude: 800–1,800 meters
Rainfall: 1,000–2,000 mm annually
Soil: Well-drained loamy soils, pH 5.5–6.5
Sunlight: Long hours with cool nights
The diurnal temperature variation in hills—warm days but cool nights—enhances sugar accumulation, producing oranges that are sweeter and more flavorful. Terraced landscapes further support root stability and drainage, preventing root rot and waterlogging.
3. Varieties Recommended for Nepal
Nepal hosts a mix of local and improved varieties, including:
▪ Junar (Sindhuli)
Famed nationwide for its aroma, sweetness, and juiciness. Thrives especially in mid-hill warm microclimates.
▪ Khasi Orange
Widely grown and adaptable, suitable for multiple districts.
▪ Valencia and Navel
Improved varieties preferred for juicing and commercial production.
▪ Local Hill Landraces
Farmer-selected types evolved to withstand local pests, drought stress, and terrain challenges.
Choosing a variety should depend on altitude, microclimate, and market demand.
4. Scientific Orchard Establishment
Proper orchard establishment is the foundation of long-term success.
▪ Site Selection
South- or south-east facing slopes
Protection from frost pockets
Strong drainage and aeration
▪ Land Preparation
Contour bunding and trenching
Terraces strengthened with fodder grasses
Pit size: 60 x 60 x 60 cm for hills, larger for plains
▪ Planting Layout
4 × 4 m to 6 × 6 m spacing depending on slope
Square, triangular or contour-based layout systems
▪ Grafting Techniques
T-budding and patch budding are commonly used in Nepal to enhance disease resistance and uniformity.
Healthy orchard establishment leads to resilience and consistent fruiting for decades.
5. Nursery Management
Nursery quality determines fruit quality. A scientifically managed nursery ensures:
-Disease-free rootstocks
-Vigorous seedlings
-Uniform growth
-Early fruiting potential
Nepal faces challenges due to uncertified nurseries, virus-infected planting materials, and limited access to high-quality scions. Students and extension workers must emphasize mother plant selection, sanitation, and regular inspection.
6. Scientific Crop Management Practices
a. Nutrient Management
Soils in mid-hills often lack micronutrients, especially zinc and boron.
Recommended annual nutrient dose per mature tree:
FYM: 20–30 kg
NPK (g): 600:200:400 g
Micronutrient sprays: ZnSO₄, Borax, MgSO₄ as needed
b. Irrigation
While many orchards are rainfed, drip irrigation, bamboo drip systems, and mulching with leaves or straw during dry months improve fruit size and retention.
c. Canopy Management
Pruning enhances air circulation and sunlight penetration. Removing diseased or crossing branches reduces pest pressure and improves fruit uniformity.
7. Flowering, Fruit Set & Pollination
Citrus trees undergo distinct phenological stages—bud formation, flowering, fruit set, and development. Flowering in Nepal usually occurs in February–March, influenced by temperature and moisture stress.
Improving Fruit Set
Balanced nutrition
Adequate moisture
Hormonal sprays (NAA, GA₃ when recommended)
Good pollinator presence
Beekeeping integration near orchards significantly enhances pollination and yield.
8. Pest and Disease Management in Nepal
Nepal’s humid monsoon and warm hill climate make citrus vulnerable to several pests.
Major Pests
-Citrus psylla: Vector of greening disease
-Citrus leaf miner: Damages young leaves
-Fruit fly: Causes premature fruit drop
-Aphids and mites: Weakens shoots
Major Diseases
-Citrus Greening (HLB): Most destructive
-Canker: Causes scab and lesions
-Root rot and dieback
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
-Sanitation and pruning
-Neem extract, timur solution, sisno water for organic control
-Pheromone traps for fruit fly
-Chemical sprays only based on recommendation and thresholds
A combination of local knowledge and scientific IPM is the key to sustainable citrus health.
9. Harvesting and Post-Harvest Management
Harvesting should be done when fruit reaches optimal maturity:
Indicators
-Deep yellow coloration
-Adequate sweetness
-Firmness
Post-Harvest Practices
-Use of clippers (not hand pulling)
-Sorting by size and color
-Grading for premium market
-Avoiding moisture during storage
-Using bamboo crates or ventilated boxes
Nepal experiences 20–30% loss during harvesting and transport—better packaging and careful handling can reduce this significantly.
10. Economics of Orange Farming
Orange farming is a high-return, medium-investment enterprise.
Benefits
Fruiting begins in 4–5 years
Trees produce for 25–30 years
Income ranges from Rs. 2–5 lakh per ropani depending on management
Marketing Channels
Village traders
Collection centers
Cooperatives
Direct transport to urban markets like Kathmandu, Pokhara, Butwal
Value-added products—juice, marmalade, dried peel, essential oils—offer additional income, especially for women’s groups and cooperatives.
11. Climate Change Impacts
Farmers across Nepal report:
-Increased drought during flowering
-Fiercer monsoon rains
-Higher pest pressure
-Frost damage at higher elevations
Adaptive Measures
-Mulching and drip irrigation
-Planting drought-tolerant rootstocks
-Rainwater harvesting ponds
-Orchard windbreaks
Climate-smart farming will determine the future sustainability of Nepal’s citrus sector.
12. Success Stories from Nepali Farmers
Across Nepal’s hills and mid-hills, orange farming is not just an income activity—it is a quiet revolution shaping rural livelihoods. The country has produced numerous farmer-led success stories that demonstrate how knowledge, organization, and perseverance can transform entire communities.
- Sindhuli Junar Farmers: Turning a Local Fruit into a National Identity
In Sindhuli, the journey of Junar (sweet orange) farmers is a remarkable example of how coordinated effort can elevate a local crop to national recognition. Historically, Junar orchards were scattered and traditional, often suffering from poor market access. But when farmers united into cooperatives—supported by local municipalities, PMAMP, and transport subsidies—something extraordinary happened.
They standardized harvesting time, introduced better grading and packaging practices, and adopted improved disease-management training provided by AKCs. Soon, “Sindhuli Junar” became a brand synonymous with quality. Today, truckloads of Junar leave the hills each season, reaching Kathmandu, Pokhara, and even connecting to cross-border markets. What changed wasn’t the fruit alone—it was the farmers’ collective belief that their product deserved a name.
- Bhojpur Citrus Cluster: Community Spirit Driving Economic Growth
In Bhojpur, orange farming has reshaped local households. Farmers who once depended only on subsistence crops now earn a significant portion of their annual income through citrus. The breakthrough came when communities adopted group farming, where farmers synchronize orchard management practices—such as weeding, fertilization, pruning, and harvesting—to maintain uniform fruit quality.
Shared transportation systems lowered costs significantly, making it possible for even the smallest farmers to join the commercial market. The cluster approach attracted NGOs and development programs, which introduced improved orchard designs, pit-planting methods, and grafted saplings. This region today stands as evidence that when farmers organize, even remote hills can become strong agricultural economies.
- Women-Led Citrus Enterprises: Strengthening Rural Livelihoods
In districts like Dhading, Lamjung, and Syangja, women have taken leadership roles in citrus farming, often managing the entire post-harvest value chain. Women’s cooperatives handle grading, packaging, record-keeping, savings groups, and even truck negotiations.
For many, orange farming has become more than income—it has created identity, confidence, and agency. The formation of women-led micro-enterprises has allowed families to invest in education, better housing, and nutrition. These stories show that orange farming is a catalyst for social empowerment, especially for women who once remained confined to household chores.
13. Government Policies and Institutional Support
Nepal’s government and agricultural institutions play a critical role in shaping the future of citrus farming. Over the past decade, policy frameworks, research programs, and local-level interventions have increasingly prioritized citrus as a strategic high-value crop for the hills.
-PMAMP Citrus Superzone: Transforming Potential into Productivity
The Prime Minister Agriculture Modernization Project (PMAMP) has identified citrus as a key commodity and established Superzones in districts such as Sindhuli and Bhojpur. The initiative emphasizes:
-expanding commercial orchards,
-enhancing disease-management capacity,
-providing financial support for irrigation and post-harvest units,
-and linking farmers directly with markets.
By clustering farmers, the Superzone model encourages improved orchard management and reduces production costs.
-Research Support from NARC and Extension Services
The Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) conducts citrus research focusing on:
high-yielding rootstocks,
disease-resistant varieties,
integrated pest management,
climate-adaptive orchard designs.
-Agriculture Knowledge Centers (AKCs) complement this by offering on-site training, field demonstrations, and timely technical guidance. Together, they help bridge the gap between scientific innovation and grassroots farming.
Subsidies and Cooperative Strengthening
Government programs provide subsidies for:
sapling production and orchard establishment,
micro-irrigation systems,
plastic crates,
and soil fertility improvement.
-Local cooperatives are encouraged to establish nurseries, manage collection centers, and coordinate market linkages. This bottom-up institutional strength is crucial for citrus sustainability.
Persistent Challenges
Despite progress, structural constraints still hinder long-term success:
-slow technology adoption, especially in remote hills
-limited disease surveillance, leading to late detection of greening and dieback
-weak post-harvest infrastructure, resulting in quality loss
-insufficient cold storage and transport networks
Addressing these gaps is essential for Nepal to fully harness its citrus potential.
14. Future Prospects and Way Forward
Nepal is entering a defining moment in citrus development. With suitable mid-hill agro-ecology and increasing domestic demand, oranges have the potential to position Nepal as a significant citrus hub in South Asia.
Expanding Cultivation in Untapped Mid-Hills
Large tracts of land in Baglung, Rolpa, Ramechhap, and Khotang remain underutilized. With proper seedlings, orchard designs, and irrigation, these landscapes could become high-yield citrus corridors. Expanding cultivation here ensures livelihood diversification for farmers who currently depend on migration.
Organic Citrus as a Premium Export Commodity
Nepal’s naturally low pesticide use gives it an advantage in organic citrus production. With certification support and proper post-harvest handling, Nepal could target premium niche markets in the Middle East and South Asia.
Citrus-Based Agro-Tourism
Orange orchards have significant tourism value. Districts like Sindhuli and Syangja have already begun hosting Junar Festivals, attracting domestic tourists. Agro-tourism can generate alternate incomes through:
-homestays
-farm tours
-citrus-based products (jam, squash, essential oils)
Youth Agripreneurship and Startup Models
Young graduates are increasingly exploring citrus-based enterprises—nursery startups, processing units, packaging innovations, and digital market platforms. Supporting youth with grants, training, and incubation programs can accelerate the development of a modern, value-driven citrus industry.
Strengthening Post-Harvest Infrastructure
To ensure competitive pricing and reduce losses, Nepal must invest in:
-cold storage units in major citrus belts
-collection centers with grading and sorting machines
-efficient transport networks
-mobile advisory services for farmers
These changes would improve quality, enhance shelf-life, and build trust in Nepali oranges in wider markets.
Conclusion
Orange farming in Nepal is more than just an agricultural enterprise—it is a fusion of traditional wisdom, scientific innovation, climate resilience, and community collaboration. When farmers are supported with strong institutions, improved planting materials, and modern orchard-management knowledge, citrus becomes a powerful engine for rural transformation.
For students and young professionals, citrus agriculture offers a dynamic field of research—from disease management to value-chain optimization. For farmers, it represents a stable, high-value crop capable of uplifting households. And for the nation, it stands as a promising pathway toward economic self-reliance.
With shared commitment—among farmers, governments, researchers, cooperatives, and youth—orange farming can emerge as one of the pillars of Nepal’s sustainable rural economy.