Farmers Complain About Wrong Fruit on Subsidized Saplings
Summary
Farmers in Dhading and Panchthar say subsidized lemon saplings they received from local governments later bore wild lime or other fruit instead of Sun Kagati. Experts blame low-quality procurement, poor varietal purity, and the spread of citrus diseases from Terai nurseries to hill orchards.
Key Points
- Farmers in Siddhalek Rural Municipality, Dhading say subsidized Sun Kagati saplings later produced wild lime or other unwanted fruit.
- A similar case in Panchthar led Bhupendra Nemwang to sue a nursery after his lemon saplings bore wild lime.
- Agriculture experts say low-bid procurement, poor nursery quality, grafting mistakes, and varietal impurity are likely causes.
- Officials also warn that moving citrus saplings from Terai nurseries to hill areas can spread Greening disease and Citrus Psyllid.
