Farmers in Dahakhola, Chhatreshwori Rural Municipality-2, are facing significant losses as a citrus greening disease affects ripe oranges in their fields. With no effective measures in place to control the disease, orange trees and their fruits on nearly one ropani of land have been impacted. The disease has caused the leaves of the orange trees to wither and fall, while ripe oranges are turning black.
Encouraged by the ease of selling oranges and the good income generated, farmers in Dahakhola have shifted from growing cereal crops to cultivating oranges on over 500 ropani of land, generating annual transactions exceeding NPR 10 million. However, with the disease spreading faster than it can be controlled and buyers refusing to purchase affected oranges, farmers are now deeply worried.
Topendra Dangi, a local farmer, reported that the disease, which first appeared in early October, has impacted 300 orange trees in his three orchards. The disease has led to withering leaves and decaying fruits.
“After the oranges ripen and turn golden yellow, one or two buyers from outside come each day to purchase them at NPR 60 per kilogram. But no one wants to buy the diseased oranges, leaving many to go to waste,” he said. Dangi estimates a loss of nearly NPR 400,000 due to the disease.
Atiram Bik, another farmer from Dahakhola, shared that out of 300 orange trees on his 15-ropani land, over 100 trees are severely affected by the disease, despite attempts to control it with pesticides.
“The oranges appear ripe and yellow on the outside, but they are overshadowed with black patches and start shriveling. Even washing them with water doesn’t remove the black spots,” he explained. “Last year, I sold over NPR 200,000 worth of oranges, but this year, the disease has caused a major loss.”
Another farmer, Chitra Bahadur KC, said the disease appeared in his orchard last year. Although pesticides and medicines were used, they failed to completely eliminate the problem. This year, 30–35 of his trees are still affected, and buyers are unwilling to purchase the diseased oranges.
“I switched to orange farming because cereal crops were not enough to feed my family for the whole year. From more than 300 orange trees, I used to earn NPR 400,000–500,000. This year, I struggled even to recover the costs of maintenance. With losses exceeding NPR 200,000, I am worried about how to sustain my family,” he lamented.
Sita KC, another farmer, expressed concerns that the increasing spread of the disease could jeopardize the entire orange farming business.
Ishwori Narayan Gharti, Information Officer at the Agriculture Development Office in Salyan, stated that pesticides, lime, and copper sulfate were provided to farmers after the disease was first observed during the monsoon in Dahkhola. However, the lack of proper usage by farmers has prevented the disease from being fully controlled. He recommended timely use of pesticides to prevent further damage.
