Production Practices and Profitability of Mandarin Orange along Dumre-Besishahar Road Corridors
Durga Prasad Acharya

Mandarin orange is one of the most important and highly commercialised citrus fruits in the hills of Nepal and has been considered as a priority cash-generating commodity for mid hill farmers. Mid hills of Tanahun and Lamjung are important mandarin growing areas in the western region of Nepal. The area under Mandarin orange is increasing in the recent years. Despite the facts, the mandarin producers of the areas are facing the problems of orchard management skill and marketing. The over all implications of poor orchard management practices were found directly related to the lower level of productivity with nominal profitability. The average productivity of mandarin orange in the research area was 224 kg/ropani with gross benefits and margins of Rs. 2222 and Rs. 136 from orchard of one ropani respectively. The costs of production for orange was just Rs. 2.60/kg whereas the average farm-get price of the produce was Rs. 10.11/kg implying the circumstances of better price formation, but due to the lower level of productivity the enterprise seemed to be almost in endangered situation. The present study concluded that mandarin orange production activity along the Dumre-Besishahar road corridor is at risk with immediate and dire need of integrated efforts of different actors for creating awareness and empowering the producers of mandarin orange and its market management.

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