Bhutan’s Minister for Agriculture and Livestock, Yeshey Penjor, has announced that the Ministry has successfully developed resilient mandarin species to combat the challenges posed by disease outbreaks.
MP for Bardo-Trong, Gem Tshering, shed light on the alarming drop in mandarin production over the past decade, which has severely impacted the livelihoods of many citrus farmers. Reports of greening or HLB disease outbreaks have plagued the industry, crippling income opportunities for farmers across 16 mandarin-growing dzongkhags in the country.
Studies have shown that areas situated within the altitude range of 900 to 1,400 meters above sea level yield high-quality mandarins. Minister Yeshey Penjor revealed that two new mandarin species, Wengkhar-1 and Wengkhar-2, have been developed at the Wengkhar Agriculture Research and Development Centre in Mongar. These resilient species are capable of thriving at altitudes of up to 1,700 meters above sea level.
Source: kuenselonline.com
