How to Start A Profitable Orange Farming Business in 5 Steps

If you’re looking for an easy way to start a profitable orange-growing enterprise, then look no further than this comprehensive orange-growing small-scale enterprise plan.

Orange is one of the most important fruits worldwide. It originated in southern China, northern and eastern India, and Southeast Asia. Today, oranges are grown on almost every continent except Antarctica.

The scientific name of an Indian sweet lemon is Citronel Limonium. It is also known as Citronelle citrange. It is one of the major fruit crops cultivated in India.

The main varieties grown commercially are the Kesar, Chokla, Amrai, and Shatabdi. They account for about 90 percent of the total production. Other varieties include Alphonso, Bombay, and Travancore.

Is Orange Farming Profitable?

The Indian government has launched an ambitious plan to increase the export share of oranges to 20%. The nation currently produces about 2 million tons of oranges annually, which accounts for just 1.7 percent of the global output. Despite being one of the largest producers of oranges in the world, India has not yet managed to boost its export share.

Apart from fresh fruits and juices, oranges are an essential ingredient for the food processing industries. Orange peels are used in different kinds of Chinese cuisines.

Health Benefits of Orange

Here are some reasons why you should eat oranges.

Orange is a good source of vitamin C.
Oranges contain phytonutrients that protect against certain types of cancers.
Drinking orange juice can help prevent certain types of cancer.
Mandarin Orangutans fight against cancer, according to studies
Oranges also help lower blood pressure.
Potassium is an important mineral for healthy bones and muscles. Fruits are high in potassium, which helps keep
Fruits regulate high BP.
Oranges contain high levels of dietary fiber which stimulate digestion and relieve constipation.

5-Step Commercial Orange Farming Business Plan Guide

1. Create a Business Plan

Before starting any kind of business, you need to first develop a business plan. A business plan gives a detailed breakdown of the costs involved in running the business and its expected profit.

Like any other fruit farming business you may start out with no returns but you need to be prepared financially to continue growing the crops.

You need to have an adequate water supply for orange crops during the winter and summer seasons.

Apart from fresh fruit selling, you need to have some ties with the food industry.

2. Choos the Best Varieties for Commercial Orange Farming

There are several important Indian varieties including Nagpur Santra, Korku Santra, Coorg Santra, Khasiasantra, Mudkhed Santra, Shringar, but wal, dancy, kara (Abohar), shrine gar, Sumitra, seedless-182, know, and

Cultivation worldwide includes:

Washington’s navels are small fruits that mature early in the season. They’re suitable for eating directly as a snack.
Valencia, with a large amount of juice and therefore suitable to extract the juice. This variety maturing late in the season is advantageous. The juice contains high levels of soluble solids. The skin is rough.
Hamlin, which is a small fruit with glossy skin, has high juicing properties.
Other popular varieties include Kuno navel, Novalima, and Minneola grapes.

3. Check the Agro Climatic Condition For Orange Farming

Mandarins can be grown in areas where temperatures range between 15 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius throughout the year. Annual rainfall should not exceed 120cm.

Extremely low or high-temperature conditions are detrimental to plants. They may suffer from damage in the form of flower or fruit loss. Furthermore, strong winds can also be damaging.

4. Suitable Soil For Orange Farming

Oranges grow best in sunny areas where they receive regular rain showers. They do not tolerate drought conditions very well. In order to get a good crop, they must be watered regularly during dry periods. Watering should begin early in the season so that the trees can take advantage of any late rains.

As a general rule, your soil needs approximately 1,000 mm (39 inches) of rain each year.

A related post: Is soil testing important for agriculture?

5. Orange Cultivation Basic Steps for Orange Farming

a) Planting of Orange Seeds

Orange propagated in various manners. You can propagate oranges through seeds and also vegetatively through budding. It is best to plant oranges during the months of July-August after starting the monsoon season.

You should generally plant your mandarin trees in pits no larger than 50cm x 50cm x 50cm (20in x 20in x 20in) with a spacing of about 4.5 meters between each tree. That will allow you to accommodate around 350-450 mandarin trees per hectare.

b) Irrigation for Orange Farming

During winter, you need to irrigate regularly, so you should set up a system that allows you to do so efficiently. For example, you could install a drip system. It would be especially useful if you live in a region where there isn’t enough rain.

You should water your citrus plants regularly until they begin to bear fruit, depending on weather conditions, but after that, it’s best to let them go into dormancy. A cover crop can help keep weeds down around the base of the tree, so avoid planting it too close to the trunk.

c) Manuring

You normally use SSP to fertilize the soil before you plant. However, you can add about 20-40kg of manure to the ground.

You can also apply N-P-K fertilizers at the rate of half a kilo per tree per annum of growth, divided into two or three applications per annum. However, increase the application of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) by about 300 grams per tree per annum until you reach the tenth anniversary of its growth. Moreover, you can also apply farmyard manure also.

As per the Soils Testing Report, You Must Also Provide Micronutrient Supplements. Improper Nutrient Delivery May Cause Serious Disorders Which Can Lead To the Decline Of the Entire Orchard. However, Foliar Spraying Is Required For Micro-Nutrient Delivery. Some Major Necessary Micronutrient Supplies Are Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe, B & Mo.

Related post: Top 10 profitable cash crops for small farmers

d) Weed control for Orange Cultivation

Generally, weeds compete with young orange trees. Weeding should be done before the flowers bloom so that no new seedlings can grow. Digging around the tree trunks may damage the roots and cause diseases such as citrus greening. To keep the soil clean, ring the trees around the perimeter of the field to allow for irrigation and fertilizer applications.

If you’re using a herbicide, use it sparingly so as not to cause any damage to the crop rows. Mulch where you can.

e) Harvesting & Yield of Oranges

If you want to grow oranges, you need to plant them in fertile soil. They require lots of water. When they’re ready for harvesting, you need to cut off their tops using scissors, pruners, or clippers. You don’t need to worry about rain or wet conditions because they won’t rot.

Mandarins start yielding fruit around the 4th year. However, you should not expect much until the 6th year. Once the trees reach maturity, they produce an average of 800-1000 mandarin oranges per tree. You may lose half of your crop during the initial growing season.

Orange trees grow very quickly, so you must plant them early enough in order to avoid losing too much fruit. They require plenty of water and fertilizer throughout the entire growing period.