Where fruits reap no benefit for growers

SANGAM PRASAIN
KATHMANDU, NOV 25 -

Nepal produces 250,000 tons of oranges annually, but only 10 percent of this output reaches the market due to inadequate transportation facilities, poor market access and dismal export performance.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, only 23,000 tons are shipped to buyers while the rest ends up as food for livestock. A ministry official said that although demand has not expanded and orange farmers are yet to learn how to get better prices, recent data shows that orange growers have been enlarging the area under cultivation.

Orange output amounted to 260,054 tons in the fiscal year 2009-10. The area under cultivation has increased to 23,098 hectares from 6,250 hectares in the last 10 years. Similarly, output increased to 260,854 tons from 66,654 tons during the same period, the ministry’s data showed.

Agriculture Ministry spokesperson Hari Dahal said that poor exports and supply in the domestic market due to inadequate transport facilities had prevented orange growers from reaping benefits.

The country exported 830 tons of oranges and 10,656 tons of orange juice in 2009-10. Orange is grown in over 54 districts, particularly in the hilly areas. Orange accounts for 25 percent of the total fruit production. Apart from poor transport facilities, ineffective collection, inadequate cold storage facilities, poor market access and low prices have prevented producers from getting the real value of their production, Dahal said.

Although the area under cultivation and productivity have increased in the last decade, the benefit for farmers has not grown proportionately. Orange production has overtaken mango production, which was at the top position. “In terms of value, oranges worth Rs. 10 billion are produced annually,” Dahal added.

Considering the increasing interest of farmers towards orange cultivation, the country could produce oranges worth Rs. 20 billion in a couple of years. However, the government should bring an appropriate incentives package to boost output, he said.

The Western Development Region is the largest producer of oranges accounting for 40 percent of the total output. Syangja is the largest orange producing district with a total output of 11,732 tons in 2009-10. Lamjung stood second with 10,814 tons followed by Tanahu (9,631 tons), Salyan (8,598 tons), Kavre (7,565 tons), Gorkha (7,011 tons), Dhading (6,341 tons), Terhathum (7,193 tons) and Dhankuta (95,935 tons).