TANAHUN: Farmers in Benikot village of Byas Municipality–13, Tanahun, have sold more than Rs 20 million worth of oranges this year.
Benikot, located seven kilometers from the district headquarters in Damauli, is currently bustling as farmers pick and sort oranges harvested from their orchards.
Local farmer Fal Bahadur Thapa reported earning Rs 1.65 million from orange sales this season. Thapa, a former teacher at Siddhabeni Secondary School, said that the total value of oranges sold from the village has exceeded Rs 20 million, adding that orange farming has become a reliable source of income for many.
Similarly, farmer Kal Bahadur Rana said he earned Rs 400,000 from orange sales this year. According to him, farmers face no difficulty in selling their produce. “Contractors come to the village, negotiate the price of the orchard, and then handle the buying, picking, and transportation,” he explained.
Another local, Mansingh Thapa, said orange farming is easier and more profitable than other types of agriculture. He noted that farmers in Benikot are especially busy during the month of Mangsir due to high demand. Thapa himself earned Rs 210,000 from orange sales this year.
Businessman Lekh Bahadur Thapa pointed out that despite the village’s proximity to Damauli, transportation remains challenging due to steep and poorly maintained roads. “Up to five vehicles transport oranges to market daily, but the road is risky and causes inconvenience,” he said.
Farmers in Benikot typically cultivate between 20 and 800 orange trees each. The oranges produced here are supplied to markets in Kathmandu, Chitwan, and Pokhara. Although Mangsir is traditionally the season for harvesting rice, farmers in Benikot are primarily occupied with picking and selling oranges, their main source of income.
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