Climate Change Turns Nepal’s Sweet-Orange Business Sour

KATHMANDU, (ANI)- The sweet orange industry in Nepal’s Sindhuli district, once a vital economic pillar, faces a severe crisis as rising temperatures and the spread of citrus greening disease devastate orchards. Over 80% of the district’s sweet orange trees have been affected, leaving farmers like Bal Kumari Thapa struggling to recover.

Thapa, who once owned an orchard with 2,500 trees, was forced to burn it down after the outbreak of citrus greening, a vector-borne disease caused by Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus. The disease, transmitted by an insect vector, has no known cure and has spread across Nepal’s key citrus-producing areas. “The trees started yellowing and quickly died. We used them as firewood,” Thapa said, recalling her loss of approximately NPR 10 million.

The Himalayan nation’s sweet orange production, a major source of income, has also been hit by erratic weather patterns fueled by climate change. Rising temperatures and unseasonal rainfall have disrupted flowering cycles and reduced fruit quality. “Climate change has shifted blooming times, yielding low-quality fruits,” said Krishna Prasad Pokhrel, a local government representative.

Citrus greening, first recorded in Nepal in 1968, has reached higher altitudes due to warmer conditions. In Sindhuli, the disease was detected at 1,045 meters, compared to its previous limit of 800 meters. Dev Raj Adhikari, a crop protection officer, attributes this spread to climate change, noting similar patterns in Khotang and other districts.

Farmers like Thapa and Devi Kumari Thakuri recount the devastating impact on their livelihoods. Thakuri, who raised her children and financed their education through sweet orange farming, has seen her orchard’s productivity decline. Despite attempts to manage the pest by isolating infected fruits, the disease continues to spread.

The Nepal government has launched initiatives to support affected farmers, promoting alternative crops like potatoes, turmeric, ginger, and avocados. “We cannot abandon agriculture, so I’ve diversified my crops to maintain an income,” Thapa explained.

Authorities have also adjusted their approach to sweet orange cultivation, discouraging farming at altitudes between 800-999 meters, where the disease is most prevalent. New plantations focus on higher altitudes above 1,000 meters, with plans to replace older trees by 2032.

The Sindhuli district, known for producing over 9,000 metric tons of sweet oranges annually, has seen a sharp decline in output. Experts and government officials emphasize the need for better pest management and climate adaptation strategies to safeguard the industry.

As Nepal records temperature increases faster than the global average, the future of its sweet orange industry depends on addressing both climate change and the underlying ecological disruptions. Farmers like Thapa and Thakuri remain resilient, adapting to new realities while holding onto hope for recovery.