Rains and low yield hike prices of ambia bahar oranges

Time of India

20-07-2025

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Nagpur: Monsoon rains and fungal yellowing have severely affected the ambia bahar orange crop in the Vidarbha region, particularly in Amravati district. This has sparked concerns of a sharp dip in yield during the season, which typically runs from September to December.
Experts estimate that only 25–30% of the expected crop is likely to be harvested this year.
In this scenario, farmers who have managed to protect their orchards from weather adversities and infections are now hoping for higher returns. Local growers said that prices may soar to a record Rs4,000–Rs5,000 per thousand fruits, owing to intense competition among traders for high-quality produce.
In Shirsgaon Kasba, Chandur Bazar taluka, traders not just from Amravati, Warud, Morshi, and Achalpur, but also from Sausar (Madhya Pradesh), Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh), and Rajasthan, have shown strong interest in purchasing orange orchards, said farmer Pushpak Khapre.
"This high-rate buying has created a joyful atmosphere among orange growers. However, since only one-third of the crop remains across the entire orange belt, the benefit may not reach most farmers," Khapre added.
"This year, while flowering occurred in many orchards, it did not translate into fruit production. In January, citrus psyllid disease caused the drying of tree tips during the flowering and budding phase, leading to a significant gap between the number of shoots and actual fruit development," he further explained.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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Earlier this year, the price of mrig bahar oranges had touched Rs55,000 per tonne. Experts now predict that by September, high-quality fruits may fetch up to Rs60 per kilogram. In Amravati district, oranges are cultivated over 82,378 hectares, of which around 65,000 hectares fall under the Ambia Bahar season. However, the yield is expected to plunge this year due to February–March temperatures rising to 40°C — a crucial period for fruit setting.
The heat led to poor fruit formation and widespread fruit drop.
Farmers have demanded that the insurance trigger period under the restructured weather-based fruit crop insurance scheme be extended. "As oranges are an annual crop, insurance coverage should be available year-round. Losses due to strong winds should also be included in the scheme," said Khapre, who also serves as a district-level representative for the Fruit Crop Insurance Scheme.
Shridhar Thakre, director of MahaOrange, admitted that ambia bahar orange crop will be less this year. "Compared to previous years, only 20–25% of Ambia Bahar oranges remain this season. Farmers should receive an average price of Rs40,000 per tonne for good-quality fruits," he said. Additionally, unseasonal rains in May adversely affected Mrig Bahar orchards, further disrupting farmers' financial cycles."