Benikot farmers earn Rs 20 million from orange sales

KATHMANDU: Farmers in Benikot village, located in Byas Municipality–13 of Tanahun, have sold oranges worth Rs 20 million this year.

Situated just seven kilometers from district headquarters Damauli, Benikot is currently bustling as farmers stay busy picking and sorting freshly ripened oranges from their orchards.

Local farmer Falbahadur Thapa, a former teacher at Siddhabeni Secondary School, reported selling oranges worth Rs 1.65 million this season.

He said orange farming has become a reliable source of income, adding that the village collectively earned around Rs 20 million from orange sales this year.

Another farmer, Kalabahadur Rana, shared that he earned Rs 400,000 from his harvest. According to him, there is no difficulty in marketing the produce.

“Contractors come directly to the village, negotiate the rate, and handle everything—from purchasing the orchard harvest to picking and transporting the oranges,” he said.

Local resident Mansingh Thapa noted that compared to other crops, orange farming is easier and more profitable.

He earned Rs 210,000 this year and said farmers remain fully occupied throughout the month of Mangsir selling their produce.

However, businessman Lekhbahadur Thapa mentioned transportation challenges due to the steep and poorly upgraded road.

“Despite the short distance from the district headquarters, transporting oranges is difficult. We send up to five vehicle-loads of oranges to the market daily, but the road is risky,” he explained.

In Benyikot, each farmer has planted between 20 and 800 orange trees.

The oranges produced here are supplied to Kathmandu, Chitwan, Pokhara, and other major markets.

Although Mangsir is the time for harvesting paddy in many places, for Benyikot farmers, oranges are the main source of income—keeping them busy picking and selling throughout the month.