By Daiaphira Kharsati
SHILLONG: Nagpur oranges are slowly taking over orange market in city due to the less production of indigenous oranges which are better than the former in terms of taste and quality.
Of late, in the city markets at Bara Bazaar and Police Bazaar, Nagpur oranges are sold while the visitors without knowing the difference purchase them.
A lady claimed that Nagpur oranges usually come in the month of March but as there is less production of the Khasi Mandarin, Nagpur orange has added to the number of oranges in the market
From December to February, the markets in the city are flooded with the yellow orange fruits adding a different charm.
While in the past , only the Khasi oranges flooded the market, of late, , people find different types of oranges, prominent among them, the Khasi Mandarin and the Nagpur oranges.
While the Khasi oranges are small in size, the latter is bulky.
Some of the sellers of oranges who spoke to The Shillong Times, said that the Khasi Mandarin is much tasty and juicy although it is small, however, on being asked about the business outcome by sale of the fruits, the sellers said “As for the Khasi mandarin, it all depends on the market, while the Nagpur orange is sold at Rs 10 each.”
The sellers also expressed concern over the less production of orange over the years.
The Horticulture Department officials also agreed that orange production is less due to “citrus decline” (decline in citrus plants) which is a problem faced by citrus growing orchards, signifying certain disorders of the plants with the continuous dying of the plants.
Moreover, the plant appears sickly, giving sparse amount of fruits and less leaves.
A functionary of the Horticulture Department said that the contributing factor of the citrus decline is poor management of orchards, less amount of nutrients, coupled with other problems faced by orchards.
Another official said that citrus decline is the cause of less production of oranges and added, “There is scanty water, and the farmers do not water the plants which adds to the problem as they face difficulty in water management, while the department has no funds for water management.”
PS Kharnaior, District Horticulture Officer, while commenting on the need to tackle citrus decline said, “To face the situation, the farmers are encouraged to plant budded or grafted plants and to water the plants regularly.”
He informed that the seeds available with the department are nurtured in the farms of the department in East Khasi Hills district located at Pamshutia and Wahjain, and there are private nurseries too approved by the Government where schemes are provided to these nurseries to nurture seedlings.
Seedlings on reaching a height of 2 ½ feet and 3 feet are sold to the farmers at half price, and orange farmers get the benefit of State funded schemes and centrally funded schemes. The State provides schemes through the Fruit Development Schemes where farmers are given 50 per cent subsidy.
When asked about the contribution in terms of orange production to Meghalaya’s economy, he replied that it is getting less over the years and in this connection, but the farmers are given awareness on the plantation of orange saplings.
Another official of the department said that under the Central schemes, there is a project for area expansion for Khasi Mandarin whereas as per guidelines, farmers are granted 50 per cent subsidy and the rest 50 per cent are borne by the beneficiaries.
Another scheme is the rejuvenation of orchards of over 30 years, where the planting materials are provided by the department depending on the amount of funds, while labour and price of manure are borne by the farmers.
The field officer who is acting as the nodal officer in the block circles inspects the site of the farmers after farmers file an application. Later, the official submits a list of the beneficiaries to the head department.
The official informed that orange farmers at Mawphu and Umblai were delighted when a team of officials from Delhi recently visited their orchards which were over 30/40 years old.
