Orange cultivation declining in Kalimpong due to diseases

The economic status of the farmers is also declining

YOWAN MOTHAY, EOI, KALIMPONG, OCTOBER 28, 2022: Orange cultivation was the main source of income in the Darjeeling hills a decade ago. 

People in rural areas depended on orange cultivation, depending on it for cashflow. Oranges were sold in Siliguri and different areas from this region from October to February. Some farmers used to send three to four pickup vehicles of oranges from their fields for sale. 

Gradually, as diseases started to spread in orange orchards, the source of income of farmers started drying up. Consequently, the economic status of the farmers is also declining. 

So they are now choosing other sources of income as cash crop. Since a decade or so, orange Orange cultivation declining in Kalimpong due to diseases cultivation has been disappearing in the rural areas. 

 There has been a noticeable decline in orange cultivation at present. Diseases in orange plants are leading to plant death and premature ripening of the fruit, says farmer Bina Tamang. 

According to Tamang, In July and August last, the orange crops in the rural areas were wiped out as the orange plants started to die from the roots after moths attacked them and a type of butterfly laid eggs. 

Awareness campaigns among farmers did not have much result. This year, not a single vehicle full of oranges was sold from the rural areas to the plains. 

Even villagers in orange growing areas have been forced to buy oranges from the market to eat.