Baglung Farmers Earn Rs 264.6 Million from Orange Sales Despite Production Decline

Baglung district has recorded orange sales worth Rs 264.6 million this year, despite a slight drop in production. While overall yield declined by 28 metric tons compared to the previous year, farmers benefited from higher market prices, earning Rs 18.6 million more than last year.

According to Santosh Adhikari, Information Officer at the Agricultural Knowledge Center Baglung, the district produced 4,071 metric tons of oranges this year, down from 4,100 metric tons last year. However, the minimum selling price per kilogram rose from Rs 60 to Rs 65, boosting farmers’ earnings. In the previous year, the total revenue from orange sales stood at Rs 246 million.

The decline in production has been attributed to inadequate rainfall and insufficient winter irrigation. Currently, orange cultivation covers 655 hectares in the district, with fruit-bearing trees spread across 377 hectares. Major orange-producing areas in Baglung include Baglung Municipality, Kathekhola Rural Municipality, Jaimini Municipality, and Galkot Municipality.

Despite the production dip, the increased pricing has provided financial relief to farmers, reinforcing the district’s strong reputation as a key orange-producing region in Nepal.