BHOJPUR: Farmers in Bhojpur are concerned after oranges have started falling prematurely and various diseases have appeared in orchards, raising fears that their year-long investment and hard work could be lost.
Farmers say orange fruits have begun turning yellow, rotting and falling from trees before reaching maturity. The problem has reportedly affected even fruits that survived hailstorms during the fruiting season.
Tirtha Bahadur Pradhan of Bhojpur Municipality-3, Gupteshwor, said the disease causing oranges to turn yellow and fall prematurely has spread in the area.
According to Pradhan, farmers are also observing other symptoms, including drying branches, white mold on leaves, curling leaves and yellowing of entire plants. He has expanded commercial orange cultivation to around 42 ropanis.
“A strange disease has started appearing recently,” Pradhan said. “The problem of fruits turning yellow and falling has become a major concern for all of us involved in commercial orange farming.”
Devraj Rai of Khawa Kerabari in Temkemaiyung Rural Municipality-5 said similar problems, including premature fruit drop, drying branches, mold and leaf curling, have occurred in his orchard for several years.
Rai, who earns up to Rs 500,000 annually from orange cultivation on around 15 ropanis, said production has been declining due to the disease.
Meanwhile, Bhimraj Bista of Bhojpur Municipality-6 said orange fruits have also started splitting while still on the trees. He expressed concern that the entire orchard could be affected if the problem is not controlled in time.
Farmers have urged agricultural technicians and concerned authorities to immediately investigate the problem and take measures to control the disease in orange orchards.
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