Mandarin farmers in Samtse did not end 2017 on a high note and that is due to low orange yield. Last year, the yield dipped by 40 per cent compared to 2016.
The dzongkhag exported only over 25 truckloads of oranges to Bangladesh. However, in 2016, over 40 truckloads of oranges were exported. The decrease in harvest exporters say is worrying because they are fetching better price this season. For 80 pieces of oranges, they were paid Nu 450, which is an increase Nu 100 as compared to the previous year.
“The yield is lesser this time. Even the taste is not good,” said one of the orange exporters, Namgay Dem. However, some exporters are anticipating the low harvest could be due to untimely rain.
“May be it’s because of global warming. Our agriculture officials are working hard to improve the yield but I do not know if it will bring any improvement,” said another exporter, Dadi Ram Adhikari. “Last year the production was good. So was the taste. This time, while packing, more oranges are getting rejected.”
Exporters said, the orange yield has been decreasing annually. About a decade ago, the orange trees were infected with a disease. They added, unless measures are put in place to control the disease, the production will continue to decline in the coming years.
Farmers of Samtse have been exporting oranges since 1998. Then, they used to send about a hundred truckloads of the fruit every season.
