Orange is widely grown citrus fruit of India. It occupies nearly 50% of total area under citrus cultivation. Mandarin, Sweet Orange is commercially grown citrus species in India. Production of Mandarin orange is increasing every year in central and western parts of country. India ranks third in the production of orange after banana and mango fruits. In India, Orange is being grown in Rajasthan, Maharashtra , Madhya Pradesh , Assam , Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.

Oranges are for sure among the most favorite fruits of millions of Indians, right? But do you know, the orange you crave the most, where does it actually grow or come from? Well, the thing is, there are many states that focus on orange farming, which means, we just do not depend on imports. And if that has got you intrigued already and your mouth is watering, then let’s get to know about the top 5 most orange producing states in India as of 2024. Here we go.

Nagpur : The Land of Oranges

Orange School of Business in Nagpur, Hotel Orange City in Nagpur, Orange City Steel Industries Pvt Ltd in Nagpur, Orange City Alloys Pvt Ltd; do these names makes you wonder about the connection between Orange and Nagpur? It's because Nagpur is the largest producer of oranges in India and contributes to over 3% of world production. The city is known as "Orange City in India" an Orange.

Orange : The Synonym of Nagpur

We all know that India is a land of diversities in terms of cuisine, language, culture and climatic conditions. Different areas in the country with different climatic conditions are suitable for certain types of farming. Like Shimla is good for apples, Mahabaleshwar is famous for strawberry, Allahabad is suitable for Guava cultivation, Goa is popular for Cashew nuts and Ratnagiri is renowned for Alphonso Mangoes, Nagpur is synonymous with Oranges.

Orange

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The orange farms and plantations of several hectares is a common scene all over the Nagpur district. This land is by far the largest cultivator of oranges as compared to other cities in India. While, majority of cultivation is done in the nearby region of Vidharba, with over around 80,000 hectares of land used for the purpose. Nagpur being more of a commercial center uses only 20, 965 hectares of land for orange cultivation. The total production of oranges is around 5 lakhs tons per year.

As mentioned earlier, it is the nature of soil and the climatic condition of the area which decides what type of farming is suitable there. Nagpur has generally a hot climate, which is perfect for orange cultivation.d the "Orange Capital of India", for the same reasons.

History of Orange Cultivation in Nagpur

It is very interesting to roam around the beautiful orange farms which are full of trees laden with ripe oranges. But, the story how the cultivation of Nagpur orange in this region started is more interesting. It was Late Shri Raghujiraje Bhonsle who tested Nagpur orange for the first time as a kitchen garden plant during 1896 and it was a successful venture. Since then the cultivation of oranges in attained momentum year after year and now orange is one of the most remunerative potential foreign exchange earning crops in this region. Nagpur oranges are also one of the horticultural crops after mango and banana at national level.

Nagpur Oranges

Nagpur oranges, which are a variety of orange grown in Nagpur, are quite popular not only in India but also outside with its sweetness and juicy pulp. The Mandarin orange, which is also known as mandarin or mandarine is the common type of orange that is widely cultivated in Nagpur. Nagpur mandarin is the most popular fruit among all types of oranges in India due to its sweet-sour appealing taste and easy peelable quality of the rind. Some of the finest Mandarins are cultivated in Nagpur, Amravati and Wardha districts of Maharashtra. Nagpur Santra, a type of loose jacketed orange belongs to this category of Mandarins. Nagpur Santra is commonly grown in the Satpura Hills of Vidharba region.

1. Maharashtra (692,000 tonnes) : Maharashtra is at the top in India for growing oranges, mainly in the Nagpur area. The unique kind of oranges from this place is world-famous. Sweet and juicy inside but a bit rough on the skin. They are called Nagpur Oranges and are of pretty local importance since these were given special status in April 2014. It is status that protects their quality and increases farming of the same in the area. Nagpur sees two main picking times: the Ambiya season from September to December, which has a slightly tangy taste, and the Mrig season in January, known for being sweeter. In these seasons, Maharashtra together produces a huge amount of oranges, amounting to 692,000 tons per year.

2. Madhya Pradesh (237,000 tonnes) : Madhya Pradesh is another big orange producer in India, especially in the Chhindwara district, with 237,000 tonnes of oranges. This is more so from the Chhindwara district, which is known to produce 237,000 tonnes of oranges. The oranges from this area are now called Satpuda oranges. All this has come a long way in differentiating these oranges from Nagpur, and the brand name has now become part of the wider plan to popularize local produce. The Chhindwara oranges have a thin skin and are sweeter, particularly favored by big companies. The area has large orange farms covering 25,000 hectares, which is important for the local people and helps send oranges to other places, including Bangladesh.

3. Assam (83,000 tonnes) : Assam produces 83,000 tons of oranges every year, which is the third largest next to Nagpur. It plays the most important role in the country’s orange market. Due to the wet weather in Assam, oranges get grown up, tasting a bit sweet and sour, unlike those oranges grown in central India. This state helps meet the local need for oranges and supports many small farmers.

4. Rajasthan (48,000 tonnes) : Rajasthan is known for its dry and deserted lands, but still it produces 48,000 tonnes of oranges. However, farmers of that region have worked on the rearing process for this variety of oranges that will do well in tough, dry soil and won’t require much water. These oranges have tough skins, making them good for shipping long distances. Growing oranges in Rajasthan helps keep farming going in this dry area.

5. Meghalaya (37,000 tonnes) : Meghalaya grows 37,000 tonnes of oranges every single year, steadily as well. Hilly and cool conditions of the area favor growing a special type of orange, and the high and cool places in Meghalaya mold the taste and feel of its oranges when they are grown. This makes these oranges different and adds variety to India’s orange production.

CLIMATE :-
  • Temperature : 10°C - 30°C
  • Rainfall : 500-600 mm
  • Sowing Temperature : 10°C - 25°C
  • Harvesting Temperature : 30°-34°C
  • POPULAR VARIETIES WITH THEIR YIELD

    Khasi : Locally known as Sikkim. It is commercially grown in the states of Assam and Meghalaya. Medium to large sized trees, dense foliage with thorns. Orange-yellow to bright orange color fruits with smooth surface. Orange color fruits with 9-25 seeds.

    Kinnow : It is a hybrid variety between King and Willow leaf. Plants are large sized, symmetrical with dense foliage, broad leaves. Fruits are medium in size, deep orange yellow colored on ripening, and adherent juicy fruit with 12-24 seeds. Fruit matures in the months of January-February. This variety when first introduced into Punjab performed very well and gained high commercial significance.

    Coorg : Trees are up righted, vigorous having compact foliage. Fruits are bright orange in color, medium to large size, easily peeled with 9-11 segments. The variety contains abundant juice with 15-25 seeds. The variety matures in February-March months.

    Nagpur : Nagpur is also known as Ponkan. Plant growth is vigrorous with compact foliage. Medium sized fruits, loosely adherent segments 10-12, and abundant juice with 7-8 seeds. It is one of the most popular and finest orange varieties grown in the world. It matures in January-February months.

    Other states Varieties : Mudkhed, Shrinagar, Butwal, Dancy, Kara(Abohar), Darjeeling, Sumithra, Seedless 182

    SOWING :-

    TIME OF SOWING : In Punjab planting is done in spring season (February to March) and Monsoon season (15 August to October end).

    SPACING : For sweet oranges use spacing of 5mx5m is recommended. Dig pit of 1mx1mx1m, kept open in sun for some days. Add 15-20kg of well decomposed cow dung, SSP@500gm per Pit.

    SOWING DEPTH : Pits of size 60×60×60cm should be dug for planting seedlings.

    METHOD OF SOWING

    Propagation : Orange can be propagated either by Seed or By Budding.

    Seed Propagation : Fruits from healthy plants with high density are selected for extracting seeds. Seeds should be mixed with ash and are left in the shade to dry. To prevent seed viability, they should be sown immediately at a distance of 3-4cm. Germination may take 3-4 weeks. Unhealthy seedlings should be removed from the field. Proper care must be taken to protect the seedlings from various diseases and insect-pests.

    Budding : Sow citrus seeds in nursery on bed of 2mx1m size and with 15cm distance between the rows. When seedlings are of 10-12cm height, transplanting is to be done. Select healthy and uniform size seedling for transplantation purpose. Remove dwarf and weak seedlings. If needed, pruned roots slightly before planting. In nursery, Budding is done when plant are of pencil thickness. Shield budding or T shape budding is done for that, T shaped slot is made in bark of tree at distance of 15-20cm from ground. Horizontal cut of about 1.5-2cm long is given, and vertical cut of 2.5cm long is made from middle of horizontal cut. Remove bud from bud stick and insert it into T shape slots, afterward wrapped it with plastic paper.

    T budding is done during February-March and also in August- September. Propagation in sweet orange, kinnow, grape fruit is done by T budding while For lime and Lemon, it is propagated by Air layering method.

    14 Health Benefits of Oranges :-
  • 1. lowers high blood pressure
  • 2. anti-inflammatory
  • 3. supplies 116.2% of the daily value for vitamin C
  • 4. disarms free radicals
  • 5. prevents damage in the aqueous environment both inside & outside of cells
  • 6. reduces the risk of colon cancer
  • 7. reduces the severity of asthma, osteoarthritis & arthritis
  • 8. prevents oxidation of cholesterol
  • 9. polymethoxylated flavones (PMFs) have the potential to lower cholesterol more effectively than some prescription meds, without side effects
  • 10. promotes a healthy immune system
  • 11. reduces the risk of death from all causes including heart disease, stroke & cancer
  • 12. significant protection against esophageal, oro-phayngeal/laryngeal (mouth, larynx, and pharynx) & stomach cancers
  • 13. provides 12.5% of daily fiber value
  • 14. fights against viral infections