BAGLUNG: Once a village slowly emptying due to migration, Kimbot in Baglung district is now seeing a surge of activity thanks to orange farming.
Loknath Kandel, a leading farmer in the district, is one of the few who has not left his ancestral land despite moving to Baglung Bazaar 13 years ago. His attachment to the village stems from his passion for orange cultivation, which he has pursued for more than three and a half decades.
Kandel owns 320 orange trees in Kimbot, 250 of which are currently bearing fruit. He visits the village weekly to tend to his orchard. He began orange farming in 1990 with an initial investment of Rs 35,000, learning the trade from local farmer Kasiram Kandel. Today, Kandel farms oranges across 14 ropanis, and the annual income from his produce continues to grow.
He attributes his decision to remain connected to the village to his love for the land and orange farming. Even after relocating his family to Baglung Bazaar for convenience and access to healthcare, he continues to tend his orchard, noting that all his property remains in Kimbot.
“I visit the village every week to fertilize and water the oranges. My only wish is to live close enough to care for them. The harvest is approaching, and there is always a fear of theft,” Kandel said.
Reflecting on the transformation of his fields, Kandel recalled that he once relied on millet and maize for subsistence, which was never enough to last the year.
Oranges, however, have significantly improved his standard of living. Income from his orchard has allowed him to educate his sons, who are now settled in Japan, America, and Portugal.
When orange farming began, transporting the produce to market was difficult due to poor road connectivity. Kandel would carry the fruits by cart to Baglung market.
Today, traders come directly to the fields to buy oranges in bulk. While he noted that bulk sales sometimes yield lower prices, he emphasized the potential for higher earnings if the state provides fair pricing and better marketing support.
Kandel, the largest orange producer in Baglung, sold Rs 1.3 million worth of oranges last year and Rs 1.5 million this year, keeping an additional Rs 200,000 for household expenses. Starting with just thirty trees, he has gradually expanded his orchard, investing about Rs 2.5 million to date.
Orange farming has now become widespread in Kimbot, turning the Bihun area into a recognized orange village. Traders from Chitwan and Dhading have already purchased orchards this year, and despite some damage from hail, overall production has increased compared to the previous season.
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