Commercialization of Mandarin Orange in Solukhumbu District, Nepal: Input, Production, Storage and Marketing Problem Assessment

Abstract

With the aim to assess major constraints and opportunities in commercialization along with the study of control measures and apposite services provided by stakeholders, the survey among 75 households from 5 different clusters in major citrus producing Dudhkoshi and Thulung Dudhkoshi regions during 2018 was conducted. The result from the pilot study portrays that – despite the long-term farming experiences in citrus, mandarins were unproductive in their orchards. Lack of technical knowledge, input supply, road and market access regarding commercial citrus farming has been major limiting aspect for orchard management and production. Likewise, condition of mechanical tools and record keeping was found poor from direct observation. 49.33% did not have storage facility for the fruit; problem on post-harvest and marketing was followed by poor transportation facility. The market for mandarin was the local market for 34 respondents where the price per kg was NRs. 77.94 which was significantly higher than the farmgate price (NRs. 49.02) at 5% level of significance. The fruit has invincible quality and taste. The development of collection centers, frequent monitoring and trainings for progressive farmers and input supplies management from government and private sectors are suggested, which can promote the productivity of citrus; thus, farming of mandarin can enhance livelihood and can be sustainable venture for the study area.

Marketing and Value Chain Analysis of Mandarin at Jorayal Rural Municipality of Doti, Nepal

“…In this study, most of the household heads were educated and only 11% were illiterate (Table 3). The illiteracy rate was found to be lower than that of study conducted in Thulung Dudhkoshi and Dudhkoshi RMP of Solukhumbu district that was found to be 24% (Pant et al, 2019). Moreover, more than 57% are just literate and able to read and write and perform simple calculations; 13% had completed 10 years of schooling and 15% had completed 12 years of schooling.…”

“…Doti is one of the 77 districts of Nepal, in the Sudurpaschhim province, and the sub-tropical climate prevalent in 60% of the region of the districts which favors the cultivation of citrus crops like Mandarin (DADO, 2018). The productive area, production and productivity of mandarin within Doti district is 285 ha, 2497 Mt and 8.75 Mt/ha, respectively (MoALD, 2021).…”

Farmer’s Perception on Mandarin (Citrus Reticulata Blanco) Disease in Gorkha, Nepal

“…Technical information should be disseminated among farmers through scheduled training, observational visit and demonstration programs (Panth and Dhakal, 2019). Use of disease resistant high yielding variety grafted with trifoliate rootstock result in proper management of disease (Pant et al, 2019). Similarly, proper management of orchard, proper planting material and desirable intercropping also result in management of disease (Ghosh and Singh, 1993).…”

Farmer’s perception on Chinese citrus fruit fly (CFFs) and its management in Solukhumbu and Sindhuli district of Nepal

“…In Nepal, citrus cultivation is done in 68 districts covering 46,715 ha, 27,339 ha of productive area, 274,140 mt. of production, and 10.03 mt/ha of yield (MoALD, 2019;MoALD, 2021). Table 1 shows the total area, productive area, production, and yield of citrus fruits in different years in Nepal. Although the citrus cultivation area is increasing, the productivity is very low in Nepal compared to most citrus-growing countries worldwide (Chhetri et al, 2021).…”