CHAUTARA: Farmers in Lamidanda, Sangachokgadhi Municipality-1, Chautara, are worried after oranges ready for sale were infested by insects and moths, causing the fruit to fall prematurely from the trees.
Local farmer Bhoj Bahadur Karki said that orange farming, which once generated income worth lakhs of rupees, is now being severely affected by diseases and insect infestations. “It has become difficult to bring the fruit to the market due to falling fruits, insect infestations, and diseases,” he said.
Another farmer, Krishna Bahadur Karki, also reported major losses in his orchard in recent years due to the same problems, despite having earned substantial income from orange sales in the past.
Orange farming in Lamidanda began with three households, but today each household cultivates 15 to 50 trees. However, all farmers are facing similar challenges. According to locals, the damage, initially caused by seasonal disasters such as hailstorms and erratic rainfall, has now escalated into a widespread outbreak of insect-related diseases. Farmer Dhan Bahadur Tamang said that changing weather patterns have negatively affected production.
Suyog Bhandari, Agriculture Officer at the District Agricultural Development Office, Sindhupalchowk, advised that infected fruits should be buried in pits to prevent further infestation. “The larvae from fallen fruits can enter the soil and cause even bigger problems next year,” he said, adding that controlling the outbreak of diseases and insects will take time.
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