Like in most orange-growing districts in the country, the Chinese fruit fly is affecting oranges in Monggar as well. The problem is more severe in Gongdu Gewog where orange growers are getting distressed due to premature dropping of fruits before it is fully ripe. According to officials, the Chinese fruit fly is the most dangerous insect pest to citrus fruits.
In Dagsa Chiwog under Gongdu Gewog, only a few oranges can be seen on the orange trees. Most of the fruits turned prematurely yellow and eventually dropped.
People say it has been about three years that the citrus fruit fly has been affecting the oranges here.
Ultimately, this has affected the income of the orange growers. Most of the villagers have yet to sell their fruits.
“It has been about three to four years since the oranges have been falling from the trees. The production was good in the past but now it is not that bountiful. We don’t know whether it is falling due to disease or something else. If the fruits are not attacked by the pest, the orchard yields about five bolero truckloads of oranges,” said Jampel Lhamo, an orange grower.
“The production was better last year. I earned about Nu 70,000. This year, the fruits have all dropped and it is not good,” said Gembo, another orange grower.
“Orange has been the source of income since our parents’ time. We have been carrying oranges on our backs when there was no road connectivity to sustain our livelihood. But over the years, the production has gone down,” said Gembo Dorji, who is also an orange grower.
Orange growers in other parts of Gongdu are also facing the same problem.
“The production is not good compared to last year. Fruits have dropped more this year. We depend on oranges for our source of income,” said Peldhen, an orange grower from Tshamlabi.
“Our oranges have been badly affected by the pest this year. We are worried about it. Oranges became yellowish and started dropping from the tree,” said Tashi, another orange grower from Pam.
According to the District Agriculture Officer, farmers are encouraged to collect the dropped fruits and dump them to stop the spread of the infection.
But officials said it is challenging as the farmers are not abiding by it.
Officials said although there is a chemical spray to manage the pest, farmers are not encouraged to use it as it will kill other beneficial insects.
A rehabilitation programme was also organized by officials in 2020 which includes cutting the dried branches and letting the new ones grow.
Monggar has more than 50,000 orange-bearing trees with a total production of more than 2,000 metric tons on average every year.
Karma Wangdi, Monggar
Edited by Tshering Zam
