Lamjung: Orange production in Lamjung has experienced a significant decline, attributed to both diseases affecting orange plants and the lack of proper care in orchards.

In the village of Syaut, listed as a pocket area by the District Agricultural Development Office, orange production has been decreasing over the past few years. A decade ago, farmers in this village earned annual incomes of up to Rs 20 million from orange orchards. However, the current decline is noticeable in high-productivity areas such as Chiti, Gaonsahar, Simpani, Bhorletar, Kuncha, Gahte, Duradanda, Rainas, Bhoje, and Udipur.

Bhagwati Pant, a resident of Syaut in Benisahar Municipality-11, had planted more than 600 orange trees on 13 ropani of land. A decade ago, her annual income ranged from Rs 600,000 to Rs 700,000. However, recent years have seen a drastic reduction, with earnings barely reaching Rs 80,000.

Bijay Paudel, the Information Officer of the Agriculture Knowledge Centre, reported that 400 metric tons of oranges were produced in the current fiscal year (2080-81) from the orange plantations in an area of 130 hectares in the district. In the last fiscal year, 525 metric tons of oranges were produced in 125 hectares of land in the district. Despite an increase in the area under orange cultivation, production has decreased by 125 metric tons.

The Agriculture Knowledge Centre attributes the decline to various diseases, insect infestations, and the inadequate attention of farmers during the orange production stages. Neglect in essential tasks such as pruning, regular care, irrigation, and proper plant selection has led to the disappearance of orange orchards in the region.