Galkot, Baglung – Siganaga, also known as “Suntala Gaun” (Orange Village), continues to shine as a key producer of oranges in the Baglung district. Year after year, farmers in Siganaga, located in Baglung Municipality-8, are increasing their orange yields, contributing significantly to the local economy.
One notable example is Ananta Khadka, a local farmer, who leased his orange orchard to a businessman from Dhading last year for five lakhs. This year, he managed to sell his orchard for seven and a half lakhs, marking a successful year. In total, Siganaga has generated four crore rupees from orange sales this season alone.
Expressing his satisfaction, Khadka mentioned that both the quality and price of the oranges have improved significantly this year. He also shared that more than 100 farmers in the area have earned anywhere from one lakh to seven lakhs each from their orange crops. Other farmers have similarly earned varying amounts, contributing to the overall prosperity of the village.
While the Ward Office does not keep detailed statistics on orange production, the Ganesh Agricultural Cooperative in the village has been maintaining records for several years. The village’s oranges are known for their distinct taste and are in demand in markets such as Pokhara, Kathmandu, and Chitwan.
The journey of commercial orange farming in Siganaga began in 2050 B.S. (1993-1994 AD), when farmers transitioned from cultivating millet and paddy fields to establishing orange orchards. Now, more farmers are expanding their orange farming, with plans to fully cover the village in orange orchards within the next five years. Areas like Bensi, Patle, Pakhabari, Bansbot, and Saikot are increasingly being planted with oranges.
According to local leader Shiv Kumar Khadka, the total value of orange production in Siganaga has increased this year. Last year, the community earned three crore fifty lakhs from orange sales, and this year, it has reached four crore. The Ganesh Agricultural Cooperative continues to support the expansion of orange farming by distributing subsidized orange saplings and helping farmers with cultivation techniques.
A major factor contributing to this increase in production is the favorable weather conditions this year, with minimal disease outbreaks affecting the crops. Oranges from Siganaga are classified and sold at different price points, with contractors shipping them to various markets in Pokhara and beyond.
As of this year, over 250 farmers in Siganaga are engaged in orange farming, with some operating small-scale to large orchards. Additionally, 400 new saplings have been planted this year alone, signaling a continued increase in production. Former ward chairperson and orange farmer Jit Bahadur Jisi mentioned that most farmers in the village are affiliated with cooperatives, and the overall production is on a steady rise.
Farmers like Top Bahadur Khadka, Ram Prasad Gautam, Radha Khadka, and Ganga KC have successfully marketed their oranges through traders in Pokhara, Chitwan, Narayangadh, and Dhading. Thanks to better orchard management, including improved irrigation and fertilization techniques, orange farming is flourishing in Siganaga.
This steady growth in orange production not only benefits the local farmers but also contributes to the broader agricultural economy of Baglung, positioning Siganaga as one of the top orange-producing areas in Nepal.
