In Nepal's Sindhuli district, the once prosperous sweet orange industry is encountering a severe crisis attributed to escalating temperatures and the prevalence of citrus greening disease. This affliction has impacted over 80% of the district's sweet orange orchards, severely affecting the livelihoods of local farmers. Bal Kumari Thapa, a farmer in the region, had to destroy her entire orchard of 2,500 trees due to the disease, eliminating a crucial source of income derived from citrus fruit sales for the past five years.
Citrus greening, a vector-borne disease, has rapidly spread across the area, leading to significant losses without prior warning. The disease's outbreak necessitated the complete burning of affected orchards to control its spread. Sindhuli district has been a major contributor to Nepal's economy through sweet orange production, with annual outputs exceeding 9,000 metric tons. However, the changing climate and rising temperatures have posed additional challenges for cultivation.
Thapa reminisced about the better days of her orchard, highlighting the rapid decline following the disease's onset. The disease not only affected the yield but also the quality of the produce, leading to the eventual death of the trees. The local government, through the District Agriculture Development Office (DADO), has initiated a campaign to plant 18,000 new saplings annually, aiming to rejuvenate the industry by 2032 with varieties that are potentially more resistant to the changing climate and disease. This initiative, however, is limited to areas above 1,000 meters in elevation due to the increased risk of disease at lower altitudes.
Despite the challenges, Thapa and other farmers are diversifying their crops to include potatoes, turmeric, ginger, avocado, lemon, and guava, aiming to sustain their income. The transition underscores the resilience and adaptability of the farming community in the face of adversity.
Source: Dynamite News