A relentless dry spell grips Kangra's Nurpur and Indora, stunting orange and kinnow growth in the "mini-Nagpur" belt. Fruits shrink without size or sweetness gains, worsened by citrus decline disease, threatening finances unless rains arrive soon—despite 3,700 hectares under cultivation.
Citrus Crisis Unfolds
Kangra district's lower belts, famed for kinnow, orange, malta, galgal, and lemon, face havoc from absent winter showers. Rainfed orchards suffer as moisture deficit halts fruit expansion and juice sweetening, compounding years of "citrus decline" impacts on yield and quality.
Key Highlights
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Crop Coverage: Orange and kinnow span 3,700 hectares in lower Kangra; district totals 10,967 hectares citrus amid 37,878 hectares fruits, yielding ~20,000 MT last year.
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Grower Woes: Farmers like Sudarshan Sharma, Upinder Singh, and Mukesh Sharma report recurring dry winters slashing production, sparking financial losses and waning interest.
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Disease Double-Whammy: Citrus decline shrinks fruits further; no policy support from governments despite employment potential in subtropical zones.
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Urgent Call: Fortnight without rain risks massive losses; most Nurpur kinnow relies on rainfall, not irrigation.
Sources: The Tribune India, FreshPlaza