In Panini rural municipality–1 of Arghakhanchi, young farmer Revati Bhattarai’s orchard has become a symbol of how commercial orange farming can change lives.

His 535 orange trees are now bearing fruit. Last year, he sold 170 quintals of oranges, generating a turnover of Rs900,000. This year, with new trees starting to bear fruit and older ones heavily laden, he estimates production could reach up to 200 quintals.

Harvesting has already begun, with ripe yellow oranges being picked and sent to market.

Butwal-based trader Jivalal Pandey had booked Bhattarai’s orchard even before the fruits fully ripened.

“Our job is to produce. Traders come to our doorstep as soon as the green fruits appear and book the trees,” Bhattarai said. “Once the orchard is booked, our responsibility is to take care of the trees and protect the fruits. We plan to harvest in crates from mid-January, though some fruits have already been sent to the market.”

After harvesting, the oranges are packed into crates and transported by truck to Butwal by the same traders. Prices are negotiated at the time of picking. Last year, oranges sold at Rs60 per kilogram in retail markets; this year, the price has risen to Rs70.

After completing Grade 12, Bhattarai spent a few years in foreign employment. He returned home a decade ago and planted oranges on land that once grew cereal crops.

Encouraged by a reliable market, he gradually converted all his fields into orange orchards. Income from oranges has enabled him to build a two-and-a-half-storey concrete house in Simle.

“More than foreign employment, orange farming changed my life,” he said. “There is no fear of unsold produce. Traders book the trees while the fruits are still green, so I don’t even have to run after markets.”

Dadhi Ram Gautam, a retired agricultural technician, is devoted to orange farming at home for the past five years.

His annual income from oranges is three times his pension pay. Almost all of his 250 fruit-bearing trees have already been booked, leaving only four or five trees for household consumption and guests.

“Traders from Butwal, Palpa and Pokhara call and come directly to my house to inspect and buy,” he said. “They bring their own vehicles and transport the oranges themselves. There is no need to sell on credit.”

Once harvested, oranges are sorted and packed into crates based on size—large, medium and small—each category fetching a different price.

Traders often purchase entire trees or even whole orchards on contract.

Chandrakant Paudel, ward chair of Panini-2, manages his orange orchard alongside his public duties.

His orchard has already been booked by traders.

“Production has increased compared to last year,” he said. “There was no hailstorm, and pests and diseases did not attack the trees. Income will be higher this year.”

Out of 600 trees, around 350 fruit-bearing ones are heavily laden. Paudel is now waiting for the right time to harvest while keeping an eye on potential prices.

In Sallery Tole of Panini-1, almost every household has an orange orchard. As demand and income improved, farmers abandoned cereal crops and planted oranges in their fields.

To organise farming practices and mobilise support, they formed the Pakhapani Farmers’ Group. Out of 45 orange-growing households, 30 are members of the group. The largest orange grower in the village is Tuk Bahadur Darlami, who earned Rs350,000 last year from 150 fruit-bearing trees.

“Orange farming is a reliable agricultural business that provides continuous income,” said Darlami, who is also a ward member. “Our entire Salleri village has turned into an orange hub. Oranges have ensured our fields are not left barren, and migration from the village is minimal.”

Some farmers are nurturing new saplings in anticipation of future yields.

“When the whole village turns yellow with ripening oranges, it looks beautiful and lively,” Darlami said. “This year, with no hailstorms or pest attacks, the trees are heavily laden.”

Traders from Butwal have already made a deal to buy from the orchards, he added.

Through the farmers’ group, growers regularly meet to discuss planting techniques, orchard management, fertilisation and ways to produce larger fruits.

Last year, the Agriculture Knowledge Centre helped construct two water tanks, each with the capacity for 1,500 litres, which are now used for irrigation.

More tanks are planned. With proper care and nutrition, oranges offer high returns, farmers say. Income from orange farming has made it easier to manage household expenses, educate children and improve homes and cattle sheds.

Another young farmer, Bishnu Bhattarai, said oranges have begun to ripen this year and yields are promising, raising hopes that income will surpass last year’s earnings.

Panini-1, Simle is the largest orange-producing area in the district.

Seeing the substantial income of Simle farmers, growers in neighbouring villages have also expanded orange cultivation. Each year, Simle alone generates more than Rs30 million from oranges. This season, orchards across the area are once again glowing yellow with ripe fruit.

Sharda Acharya, a technician at the Agriculture Knowledge Centre, said that commercial orange farming is expanding in Simle as well as in Pokharathok, Khidim, Panena, Maidan, Mareng, Bhagwati and Arghatosh, Khandaha and Hanspur Sakindhara villages.

She said this year’s strong production could significantly increase economic activity across these areas.