Farmers' Perception On Orchard Management In Mandarin Orange (Citrus Reticulata Blanco.) In Gulmi District, Nepal

The study aimed to understand farmers’ perceptions of mandarin orchard management in Gulmi district, Nepal. A total of 100 respondents were selected through simple random sampling and interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. The collected datawere then entered in Ms. Excel and then analyzed using STATA. On an average, each household allocated 0.48 hectares for mandarin cultivation, with 2.45 family members engaged in farming and an average of 17.21 years of experience in mandarin production. Findings revealed that 68% of farmers relied solely on rainfall for irrigation, while only 31% stored water. Organic farming practices dominated, with 78% using only farmyard manure (FYM) and 9% combining FYM with chemical fertilizers on a regular basis. Training on orchard management was received by 58% of farmers, while subsidies were accessed by only 15%. Pruning was practiced by 92% of farmers, but only 40% had received proper training, and merely 2% performed training. Post-pruning, 32% applied Bordeaux mix. Most farmers were aware of common mandarin pests and diseases, yet few used chemical insecticides or fungicides, favoring organic methods instead. Farmers were gradually adopting scientific practices like pit preparation, pruning, mulching, and Bordeaux mix application. However, challenges such as inadequate irrigation, prevalence of pests and diseases, and limited knowledge of proper orchard management remained significant constraints in mandarin production.