For decades, oranges have been the main source of livelihood and cash income for the farmers in southern parts of Bhutan. But this is not any more. The orange yield has been falling year after year. Farmers are blaming changing weather pattern among many other factors for the dwindling orange yield.
Kharka Bahadur Rai, 60, from Rangaytung village in Phuentsholing owns over an acre of orange orchard. There are over 250 orange trees in his orchard. Until few years ago, he used to reap about two to three truckloads of oranges every year. This year, he will be fortunate if he can reap a small load.
“The trees are unproductive; we tried everything, but it just got worse. Last year was worst of all the years. I had nothing to harvest. It is frustrating after working so hard in the field,” repents Kharka Bahadur Rai.
A host of factors are being blamed for the sharp decline in the yield. Farmers said changing weather pattern could be one of the factors.
“It is becoming hotter year by year. Too much heat is not good for oranges. It dries up the orange trees from the roots. Intense heat also causes fruits to fall before it ripens,” said Kharka adding that every orchard owner in his village is going through the same plight.
Disappointed with the poor yield, Kharka Bahadur Rai decided to give up working for oranges. Today, he hardly does anything in his orchard. The prized orchard not very long ago now lies forsaken, overgrown with thickets.
The unproductive orange trees had sent Kharka looking for an alternative. He now grows ginger. He has planted ginger on about half an acre of land.
At least for now ginger has come to his rescue. But Kharkha is worried that the same fate might befall on his new found income. Should this happen, Kharkha says he will be left with nothing.
