Dhorpatan: Baglung’s farmers are facing a concerning issue as their lemon plants, which were in the fruiting stage, are succumbing to a fungal infection. Hundreds of farmers in the area have reported that thousands of lemon plants have withered over the past two months. They fear significant financial losses if the situation is not promptly addressed.

According to Kumar Pun Magar, the information officer at the Agriculture Knowledge Centre in Baglung, the lemon plants are falling victim to this fungal infection, which causes the tips of the lemon plant leaves to dry up and die. He suggests that the farmers can save their plants by pruning and discarding the affected areas. Seeking technical advice can help prevent this issue in lemon cultivation.

The fungal infection affects the lemon branches and poses a threat to the farmers’ investments. Farmers are advised to be vigilant and promptly trim the drying branches. The problem has primarily emerged in the Nisikhola area and its surroundings within the district.

Nar Bahadur Budha Magar from Nisikhola has already witnessed 34 out of 60 lemon plants wither. He explains that his ripe lemon fruits started dropping during the harvest, leading to the death of the plants. Even lemon plants planted the previous year are not spared. Having engaged in commercial lemon cultivation for the past two years, Budha Magar anticipates a significant financial setback, estimating a loss of approximately Rs 200,000.

The issue has even spread to lemon trees that have been growing for six to seven years in the area. Initially affecting the older trees, the problem has now extended to younger plants, threatening the investments of farmers.

Purna Bahadur Chhetri, another local farmer, has had 70 out of 90 of his lemon plants affected by the disease. He is taking measures to combat the issue by cutting the dried branches as soon as they show signs of infection. Notably, this problem did not arise last year.

The Agriculture Knowledge Centre in Baglung reports that, out of 45 hectares of land dedicated to lemon cultivation in the district, only 22 hectares are currently yielding produce. The situation remains a cause for concern among the lemon farmers in the region.