MYAGDI: Bikas Shrestha, a farmer from Annapurna Rural Municipality-7, Dosalle in Myagdi, has earned Rs 2 million from orange sales this season.
Shrestha, who cultivates oranges commercially on 15 ropanis of land, sold his produce at nearly double the usual market price. Oranges from his Annapurna Fruit and Vegetable Farm were purchased by a trader from Kathmandu at Rs 200 per kilogram. In contrast, oranges in Myagdi were sold at around Rs 70 per kg during the month of Poush.
“The price, which began increasing at the start of the season, reached Rs 200 per kg by February 2,” Shrestha said. “Although production has declined by about 40 percent compared to last year, higher prices have helped maintain income.”
Last year, he sold oranges worth Rs 1.5 million at around Rs 100 per kg. Out of 700 orange trees planted in his orchard, 300 bore fruit this year.
Shrestha has also facilitated the sale of oranges worth Rs 13 million from other farmers in the area. According to Prem Paija, president of the Dosalle Citrus Farmers Group, 42 households in Dosalle collectively sold oranges worth Rs 20 million this year.
Originally involved in poultry and real estate businesses in Beni, Shrestha purchased hillside land at Jangalchheu in 2076 BS with plans to build a retirement home. The once-barren land has now been transformed into a thriving orchard. He has invested around Rs 3.5 million in fencing, land preparation, pit digging, sapling plantation, fertilization, infrastructure development, and additional land purchases.
“I never imagined agriculture would generate such good income,” he said. “Now I am expanding the farm by acquiring more land.”
The farm provides regular employment to three people. In addition to orange cultivation, Shrestha raises both local and broiler chickens, using poultry manure as fertilizer for the orchard. He noted that he has not received any government subsidies for his agricultural venture.
By directly connecting with wholesale buyers in Kathmandu, Shrestha ensured a reliable market and better pricing. After shifting from real estate to agriculture, he handed over management of his Jaleshwar Poultry Firm in Beni to his son, Adesh.
Local farmer Khagbir Paija praised Shrestha as a role model at a time when many are leaving villages for cities or foreign employment. “He has not only utilized barren land but also introduced new techniques in orange farming,” Paija said. “His success has encouraged others to return to the village and invest in agriculture.”
Paija added that demand for land suitable for orange farming has increased, driving up farmland prices. Farmers and traders from Beni and nearby areas regularly visit the orchard to observe its progress. The farm offers scenic views of the Nilgiri and Dhaulagiri mountains.
Shrestha has built guest accommodations within the orchard and plans to integrate the farm with agrotourism. Located at an altitude of 1,500 meters above sea level, Dosalle has increasingly made orange farming its primary source of income.
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