Muglin (Chitwan): The Ichchhakamana Rural Municipality in Chitwan is hosting a three-day Orange Festival starting today to ensure the market for locally produced oranges from Tokdand, Dhap, Majhgaun, Sirangaun, and Dode villages within the municipality. This marks the first edition of the festival, aiming to promote and sell the abundant orange harvest from the region.

Dan Bahadur Gurung, Chairperson of Ichchhakamana Rural Municipality, expressed the festival's goal of providing a platform for local farmers to sell their oranges and enhance promotional activities. Visitors to the festival can engage in picking and enjoying oranges, with an added attraction of an orange-eating contest. The festival is designed to showcase the diverse uses of oranges and educate visitors about their cultivation.

Gurung highlighted that the festival would offer oranges at discounted prices compared to the market, and various materials would be distributed to orange farmers. Additionally, agricultural technicians will provide training to farmers to enhance their cultivation practices.

The organizers believe that the festival will facilitate the sale of Ichchhakamana's oranges in different markets across the country, contributing to the region's economic growth. With an estimated 450 farmers participating, the orange sales are expected to reach Rs 100 million this year. Currently, farmers are selling oranges at Rs 75-90 per kg directly from their farms. Orange cultivation covers 80 hectares of land in the rural municipality, producing a total of 1650 metric tonnes last year, according to the Agriculture Development Section of the rural municipality.