Baglung, Jan 26: Gandaki Province’s Minister for Agriculture, Land Management, and Cooperatives, Padma GC Shrestha, visited Banskharka on Friday and was left astonished by the flourishing orange orchards that spanned the hillsides. The golden glow of ripe oranges spread across the landscape can capture anyone’s heart, and for a minister representing farmers, it was an even more enchanting sight.
While walking through the orchards laden with oranges to participate in the “Banskharka Orange Festival,” Minister Shrestha remarked that the village should be better known as Suntalakharka (Orange Hill) rather than Banskharka (bamboo pasture-land).
“I had heard about the oranges here in ministry discussions and from colleagues, but seeing it firsthand makes me believe that this place truly deserves to be called Suntalakharka,” she said during her address. The orange festival, held at Jaljala Rural Municipality-1 in Banskharka, left every visitor amazed by the extensive orange cultivation.
Baglung Municipality Mayor Basant Kumar Shrestha also expressed his admiration for the sight, saying, “Seeing such abundant oranges on a single tree is rare. Here, the orchards are bursting with oranges, and the entire village seems to be covered in them.”
According to a farmer Mekh Bahadur Khatri, this year’s harvest in Banskharka reached an impressive milestone, with oranges worth Rs 184.47 million being produced. Of the 1,500 ropanis of land under orange cultivation, 26,700 trees are fruit-bearing, and an additional 24,445 trees are maturing. The total number of trees stands at 51,151, and when all of them start bearing fruit in the coming years, production is expected to double, potentially reaching Rs 400 million.
One of the lead farmers, Jat Bahadur Khatri, earns approximately Rs 3.5 million annually from his 25 ropani orange orchard. Other notable farmers, such as Shanta Bahadur Chhintel and Hem Bahadur Armaja, produce oranges worth Rs 2.3 million and Rs 1.9 million annually, respectively. Meanwhile, Tej Bahadur Khatri and Nar Bahadur Paija run nurseries to support the industry.
“Commercial orange farming has transformed the lives of Banskharka’s farmers. There are farmers here earning anywhere from Rs 500,000 to Rs 4 million annually by selling oranges,” shared lead farmer Mekh Bahadur Khatri. The oranges from Banskharka are primarily sold in markets like Pokhara, Muglin, Narayangarh, and Kathmandu.
Orange cultivation in Banskharka began around 1997 BS BS when a few orange trees were spotted in Bazarmare and Birmare villages. Over time, farming expanded, and in 2028 BS, the Agriculture Development Bank started providing loans to support farmers. By 2052 BS, after road access to Pokhara was established, the farmers began cultivating oranges commercially.
Today, nearly all 239 households in Banskharka are involved in orange farming. Farmers now consider orange cultivation as their primary livelihood.
Raj Gautam, an agricultural officer from the rural municipality, highlighted Banskharka’s suitability for orange farming. “The key features here are the north-facing sloped land, favorable climate, black soil, and sunny environment, all of which contribute to thriving orange orchards. Even when other regions run out of oranges, Banskharka produces them until February and March,” he said.
Banskharka lies at an altitude ranging from 1,100 to 1,900 meters above sea level. Ward Chair Jak Bahadur Rokaya emphasized the need to upgrade the road connecting Banskharka to further ease the transportation of oranges, which would benefit farmers greatly.
Despite the success, farmers face challenges such as inadequate irrigation facilities, landslide issues, and unorganized electrical wiring in the orchards. The festival, jointly organized by the rural municipality and Ward No. 1 office, showcased technologies related to orange farming, exhibitions, and cultural performances. Outstanding farmers were also honored with cash prizes during the event.
The festival was graced by dignitaries, including Gandaki Province Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey, Minister Padma Jisi Shrestha, and other high-ranking officials.
Chief Minister Pandey pledged provincial support to develop Banskharka as a key orange production area. He announced plans to include the upgrade of the road connecting Beni in Myagdi to Banskharka in the upcoming budget and promised a 50% subsidy for training and technology transfers for orange farmers.
Rural Municipality Chair Raju Prasad Acharya highlighted the festival’s goal of promoting Banskharka’s oranges, improving market access, and encouraging more farmers to engage in orange farming. #orange #nepal #baglung
(Ram Bahadur Thapa)
