Palpa, Aug. 13 - The Citrus and Fruit Development Centre in Palpa has distributed nearly 400,000 citrus and other fruit saplings over the past 13 years, significantly supporting the expansion of commercial fruit farming across Nepal’s hill districts.
According to the Centre, a total of 399,800 citrus and other fruit saplings were distributed between fiscal year 2069/70 and 2082/83.
Office chief Jogendra Kandule said that orange saplings accounted for the largest share, with 224,517 orange saplings distributed during the period. The Centre also distributed 81,628 lemon saplings and 16,029 Junar (sweet orange) saplings.
The Centre produces both grafted and seed-grown saplings, raising them inside and outside greenhouse facilities before supplying them to farmers. Saplings are sold at subsidized rates ranging from Rs. 45 to Rs. 150 per plant.
In fiscal year 2082/83 alone, the distribution of 53,211 orange, lemon, and Junar saplings generated Rs. 4.7 million in revenue, reflecting growing demand for citrus cultivation among farmers.
Information officer Sudip Devkota stated that the office previously distributed a wider range of fruit and vegetable seedlings, but in recent years it has focused specifically on orange, lemon, and Junar saplings.
The saplings produced in Palpa are supplied to several districts, including Syangja, Gulmi, Arghakhanchi, Pokhara, and Baglung, contributing to the development of citrus farming beyond Palpa district.
Citrus cultivation is generally practiced at elevations between 750 and 1,800 meters above sea level, where climatic conditions are considered suitable for orange and lemon production.
Agricultural officials say that citrus farming has increasingly expanded into areas traditionally used for maize, wheat, barley, and buckwheat cultivation. Farmers are shifting toward citrus because it offers higher and more stable returns than cereal crops.
Devkota noted that once citrus trees are established, they require relatively limited care, usually one or two maintenance operations per year, while providing significantly higher profits than many traditional crops.
The growing popularity of orange, lemon, and Junar farming is also helping to utilize barren and underused land in Nepal’s hill districts, creating new opportunities for rural income generation and long-term agricultural sustainability.
The distribution programme is viewed as an important step toward strengthening citrus-based livelihoods, promoting commercial horticulture, and encouraging productive use of marginal hill land across western Nepal.
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