Though it is grown in more than 50 districts, 39 mid-hill districts have the potential for commercial production. These districts occupy around 65 percent of the citrus fruit cultivation, contributing around 67 percent to total production.
Mandarin oranges now present a serious business opportunity for mid-hill districts and more than 300 sites have already been developed. Junar - an indigenous sweet orange - lime and hill lemon are other major citrus fruits. Rough lemon, pomelo, grapefruit, sour lemon, citron, sweet lime, calamondin and kumquat are grown on a small-scale.
According to myrepublica.com, there is a huge potential for increasing Nepalese citrus fruit productivity due to the wide gap between actual and attainable yields. Worldwide, citrus yield ranges from 50 to 90 tons/hectare. India and Pakistan often reach 20-30 t/ha. According to the National Citrus Development Program, citrus fruit yield in Nepal was 8.79 t/ha for 2015-2016. This can be increased to 15 t/ha simply by improving orchard management practices such as timely application of fertilizers, disease and pest management, tree pruning, mulching, irrigation, etc.
Mandarin oranges now present a serious business opportunity for mid-hill districts and more than 300 sites have already been developed. Junar - an indigenous sweet orange - lime and hill lemon are other major citrus fruits. Rough lemon, pomelo, grapefruit, sour lemon, citron, sweet lime, calamondin and kumquat are grown on a small-scale.
According to myrepublica.com, there is a huge potential for increasing Nepalese citrus fruit productivity due to the wide gap between actual and attainable yields. Worldwide, citrus yield ranges from 50 to 90 tons/hectare. India and Pakistan often reach 20-30 t/ha. According to the National Citrus Development Program, citrus fruit yield in Nepal was 8.79 t/ha for 2015-2016. This can be increased to 15 t/ha simply by improving orchard management practices such as timely application of fertilizers, disease and pest management, tree pruning, mulching, irrigation, etc.
