Junar processing plant in operation from next season

Sindhulimadi, Dec. 31

The tangerine (Junar or sweet orange) processing plant in Sindhuli is scheduled to be in operation from the next season.

The first ever industrial set-up, with joint investment of farmers and private sector businesses, was initiated a couple of years ago under the ‘One District One Product’ programme initiated by the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI).

But, due to the blockade imposed by India last year, machines of the plant were halted in India and the setup had been delayed.

“The blockade not only delayed the plant set-up but also cost us about Rs. 3 million in demurrage charges,” said President of Junar Development Association Dipak Koirala.

He said that the disputes about the investment had been resolved with the initiation from the FNCCI, whereby 60 per cent shares would be borne by the local farmers and 40 per cent by the private investors.

The overall cost of the processing plant is Rs. 70 million.

"The plant will process tangerine and produce juice from next season," said Koirala.

According to president of Sindhuli Chamber of Commerce and Industry Dinesh Kumar Shrestha, there were some disputes regarding the shares portion to be divided between the farmers and investors. Moreover, some of the farmers were unable to manage the money they needed to make an investment to the plant.

Currently, tangerine is primarily produced in Ratanchura, Tinkanya, Bitijor, Basheshwor, Majhuwa and Dumja villages of Sindhuli.

There are three collection centres and one cold store in the district.

Meanwhile, the tangerine producing farmers are scared of 'fruit fly' – a kind of worm that grows inside the fruit and damages it.

"It has been a couple of years since fruit fly was found here in Sindhuli. But it has scared the farmers. Some of the farmers sold tangerine before they were fully ripened due to the fear," said Shrestha.

 Saurav Dhakal, an entrepreneur from the district who is involved in promoting the local products of Sindhuli, said that the worm was only seen in some areas therefore measures should be applied to stop it from being spread to other areas.

"There is a need to expand the production area as the current product is not sufficient to meet the market," he said.

After the processing plant comes in to operation, the demand will further rise as most of the fruits will be used up by the factory while the demand of fresh fruit will still be there.

According to the statistics of Association, tangerine is cultivated on about 1,500 hectares of land in Sindhuli alone and approximately 15,000 tons of fruit is produced on an average annually.