India harvests approximately 10 million tons of oranges annually, with Maharashtra's Vidarbha region accounting for a substantial share. Amravati district contributes nearly 45 per cent of Maharashtra's orange harvest, estimated at 1.2 million to 1.5 million tons annually, followed by Nagpur.
Nagpur Mandarin, also known as Nagpur Santra, is exported to Dubai, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan. Demand is also increasing in Saudi Arabia, the United States, and Europe.
The Central Citrus Research Institute (CCRI) in Nagpur has developed an orange variety weighing more than one kilogram, intended primarily for juice extraction. The institute also provides grower training, while government subsidies support drip irrigation adoption.
Processing infrastructure includes the Patanjali Mega Food Park at MIHAN, with capacity for up to 800 tons of fruit daily, and the NOGA Factory at Hingna MIDC, which processes approximately 3,500 tons annually.
These facilities convert lower-grade oranges, including Grade 3 and Grade 4 fruit, into juices, citrus oils, and other processed products, reducing post-harvest losses.
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (AP...