A steady production of Darjeeling oranges is anticipated this winter. Despite a decade-long decline, recent field reports suggest a stabilization in production. The department of food processing industries and horticulture is now considering establishing fruit processing units in the hills to utilize fruits that drop from trees before ripening, constituting about 40% of the total fruit yield.
Potential value-added products from these oranges include juice, jam, jelly, and marmalade. Despite being smaller, Darjeeling oranges are considered superior to the Nagpur variety due to their superior sweetness, juiciness, and succulence.
Various challenges have contributed to the decline in orange production, including the citrus tristeza virus, greening (fungal infections), trunk borer disease, fruit fly attacks, and poor farming practices. Last winter, the hills produced around 39 metric tonnes of oranges, and it is expected to remain at a similar level this year. In the past, production had dropped to nearly 29 metric tonnes.
To address these challenges and boost orange cultivation, the Bengal horticulture department is distributing approximately 45,000 saplings to orange growers. Additionally, the department is providing expertise to help farmers revive the fertility of their land. Currently, oranges are cultivated over an area of 4,150 hectares in the hills.
Source: www.telegraphindia.com