Nepal: Orange production surge in Solukhumbu, but farmers face market challenges

SALLERI (Solukhumbu), Feb 10: Orange production has increased significantly in Solukhumbu, a mountainous district in Koshi Province, this season, according to the Agriculture Knowledge Centre Solukhumbu. The production of oranges in the district surged by 469 metric tonnes in the current fiscal year (FY 2023-24) compared to the previous fiscal year, FY 2022-23. Information Officer at the Centre, Kul Bahadur Rai, said orange production in the district last fiscal year stood at 1,690 metric tonnes, which reached 2,159 metric tonnes in the current fiscal. Orange is grown in 295 hectares of land in the district, but this year production could be reaped only from 257 hectares. Rai, the center's information officer, said the production increased this year with the increase in the number of high-yielding orange trees. Oranges can be grown in seven out of eight local levels in the district. Cultivation is not possible in Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality because of extreme cold, said ...