Orange output may increase by 40%

Supported by timely rainfall, orange production of the county is expected to rise by 40 per cent to 23 lakh tonne compared to 16 lakh tonne last year.

In Maharashtra, the largest orange producing state, the wholesale price has come down to Rs 150- 250 per eight dozen. Last month the price was Rs 350- 400. The state has 1.35 lakh hectare of area under orange cultivation and produced 11.5 lakh tonne orange last year. Owing to sufficient rainfall the production may touch 15 lakh tonne, said Balasaheb Bende, director, Agriculture Produce Market Committee.

The orange producing districts in Maharashtra are Amrawati, Nagpur, Yeotmal, Pune and Akola, of which Amrawati and Nagpur alone account for about 90,000 hectare. Rajastan contributes 20 per cent of the total production in the country. The Kinoor variety of Rajastan orange will reach the market in March.

"In the retail market the price of orange is 20- 25 per cent more than the wholesale price. The retail price has started falling in all the states owing to high availability. Orange trucks are going to most of the Indian states from Maharashtra," said Mumbai traders. About 70 trucks have come to APMC market today.

India is exporting around 10 per cent of its total production during the season. This time the export will be more because of surplus crop. Government has arranged cold storage facility for oranges to keep it preserved till May next year.