World famous Khasi Mandarin variety on verge of extinction
SHILLONG: With the lack of intervention on the part of the State Government, farmers in Ri-War area who are growing the world famous Khasi Mandarin variety of oranges which is available only in the region, have been forced to shift to other plantation since they have not been able to sustain themselves.
Following this, there has been a huge decline in the production of the Khasi Mandarin oranges especially from Ri-War area in the past few years, unlike the past when the oranges produced from the State were exported to other states and even abroad.
If the trend continues, Ri-War area will have no more Khasi Mandarin oranges growing there since there will be no farmer willing to grow this hugely popular citrus fruit.
The main factors behind this situation is the unfavorable climatic conditions, presence of parasites in the cultivation coupled by non-introduction of new technological interventions and the lack of intervention on the part of the Government to help these farmers.
To address this disturbing trend, Living Roots Society (LRS) is organizing an orange festival under the theme ‘Grow Orange! Grown Organic’ at Pynursla on December 12 with an aim of popularizing the cultivation of oranges in Ri-War region.
“We are organizing this festival to re-popularize the growing of oranges in the region,” LRS secretary Hawson Khongsit told newsmen here on Tuesday.
He revealed that most of the orchard owners in Ri-War were shifting to other cultivation since it had become extremely difficult for them to sustain themselves.
According to him, many of the orchard farmers have now taken up broom cultivation in a major way.
“We are all aware that broom cultivation is not as environment friendly as oranges plantation,” Khongsit said.
He recalled that Pynter village, once known for its bulk production of the sweet and juicy Khasi Mandarin, has seen a gradual decline in the production of oranges.
“Earlier hundreds of vehicles loaded of oranges used to leave from Pynter village to other parts of the State, but now not even two vehicles are filled with oranges due to the climatic changes that have occurred in the past few years,” Khongsit said, adding that a young orange tree aged 15-16 years is supposed to bear fruits but that is not the case now in the village.
According to him, different kinds of un-natural marks and signs were noticed in the fruits like shades of black in the outer layer, pathogen eating up the fruit from inside and the change in the colour of the tree to yellow. “In such cases, the farmers are left with no choice but to cut off the trees,” Khongsit said.
Stressing on the need to look for a solution for these problems, LRS president Ian Khongmen impressed on the need to develop the corporate way of farming.
“The government can extend a helping hand in this strive to revive the hopes of the farmers of Ri-War by bringing in new technology, new seeds, and new methods of developing these seeds and the likes,” Khongmen added.
“Through the help of the government, new researches and development could be ventured upon,” the LRS president said, adding that providing free seeds to the farmers will not be enough as the whole process of ensuring the sustenance of orange production in the State hugely depends on the researches and the availability of new technological intervention which could benefit not only individuals but the whole community.
Calling upon the farmers not to abandon orange cultivation, he said, “As a society, our role is to instill a sense of hope among the farmers of this region by introducing them to various other methods of earning their livelihood through the tourism sector which is abundant in this region.”
He also noted that with a supplementary income, farmers could give importance to the cultivation of oranges without worrying about the profit.