Kolkata: Darjeeling mandarins, one of the most popular varieties of oranges in India, are facing a steep decline in production due to rapid climate change and the spread of diseases that are killing the plants.
Rajesh Bhagat, an orange dealer at a regulated market in Siliguri for over three decades, around 600 kilometers from Kolkata, the state capital, has witnessed this shift firsthand.
Drop in production
The 51-year-old supplies oranges to different parts of Bengal and even neighbouring states. He usually procures oranges from other states for his business and hardly sells the local variety of Darjeeling mandarins. “The taste and sweetness of Darjeeling mandarins cannot be compared to any other variety of oranges grown in the country. But Darjeeling mandarins hardly come to the market due to falling production, forcing us to make up the deficit by selling other varieties,” Rajesh told EastMojo.
“There is still high demand for Darjeeling mandarins as customers keep asking for them, but they are hardly available. There’s a big gap between demand and supply.”
Ranjit Prasad, 50, another trader at the regulated market, pointed out that the entire wholesale market used to be flooded with Darjeeling oranges till over two decades ago. “Now, not a single shop can claim to have a good stock of the citrus fruit. We have lost over 90 per cent of the market due to the drop in production. We bring oranges from Arunachal Pradesh, Nasik and even Punjab to overcome the shortage and run our business,” he said.
Today, the market is mostly dominated by Kinnow oranges from Punjab and other states.
Disastrous effect of climate change
Amrendra Pandey, an agricultural scientist at North Bengal University, told EastMojo that the mandarin plants have become very old and lack a proper immune system. “Oranges grow well in frost-free tropical and sub-tropical regions up to 1,500 meters above sea level. They require annual rainfall of 100–120 cm and a temperature range of 10–35°C. The plucking season starts in November and lasts till January. But rising temperatures are influencing plant growth, blooming, and fruiting of Darjeeling mandarins, thus affecting their quality and production,” he explained.
“The Himalayan belt has very old plants that no longer have an effective immune mechanism to fight diseases and have become vulnerable to citrus dieback, which leads to a decline in health and eventual death of citrus trees. It is necessary to sow new plants to ensure good quality mandarins. The gestation period of oranges is typically seven years, but they can be harvested earlier using the grafting method, in just three years.”
Farmers badly hit
Prem Bahadur Bhujel, 70, a veteran orange farmer in Sittong-3 Gram Panchayat, told EastMojo that production has dropped drastically over the years. “Earlier, I had around 700 orange trees with a yield of 700–800 oranges per tree. Now, the production has dropped to just 200–300 oranges per tree. The climate in the hills is becoming warmer, which is affecting orange production and increasing the spread of diseases. The government must look into the matter and find ways to cope with the drop in production,” he said.
Despite these setbacks, a section of farmers in Darjeeling is hopeful and ready to revive cultivation. “Mandarins have high demand locally and in other states. I’ve decided to farm mandarins on one acre of my land. I’m getting training from the horticulture department and will begin soon,” said Hemant Gurung, a budding farmer in Sittong-2 Gram Panchayat.
Sittong and Mirik remain among the major orange-producing areas of Darjeeling and are home to several orchards.
Survey underway
Dr. Samuel Rai, Director of the Cinchona Plantation in Darjeeling, told EastMojo that a survey was initiated last year to assess the severity of crop damage due to diseases, total production, and the number of farmers involved in mandarin cultivation. “The orange plantations are mainly affected by gummosis, a trunk disease caused by soil-borne fungi that eventually kills the plant. Fruit flies are another major concern, largely due to the increasing influx of outsiders to the hills. These fruit flies, which travel with tourists, damage local plantations,” he said.
“The survey report will give us a comprehensive idea of the types of diseases affecting the orange trees and help us develop coping mechanisms.”
The revival of Darjeeling mandarins is crucial—not just for the livelihood of local farmers, but also to preserve the heritage of a crop that has delighted generations of orange lovers with its unique sweet and sour flavour.
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