Yield Constraints of Sikkim Mandarin (Citrus reticulate) and Possible Management Strategies: A Review

The Sikkim Mandarin (Citrus reticulata) is one of the most important fruit crops of Sikkim for ages. The valleys of the Tista and Rangeet rivers and their tributaries of Sikkim and the adjoining Darjeeling district of West Bengal offer an ideal Himalayan climate for the cultivation of Sikkim Mandarin. Analysis shows that during 2020-21 Sikkim produced 26.65 MT of mandarin from 13.26 thousand hectares of land with a productivity of 2.01MT /ha. It was seen that there had been an increase of 1.68-thousand-hectare area in 2020-21 from 2014-15 producing an additional 7.66MT. However, while area and production have increased, productivity has plummeted by 38.69 per cent over the period from 2014-15 to 2020-21. Due to multiple reasons, poor returns from the citrus orchards have ushered farmers' unwillingness to invest in mandarin. The constraints like declining soil productivity and non-adherence to soil amelioration measures, the incidence of pests and diseases like the fruit fly, and citrus dieback etc, and lack of marketing channels and proper storage as well as preservation units are a few to name. There is a need of increasing productivity to maintain the glory of the species. The major strategy/approach would be to manage the basic problem which is the nutritional management of the cropping area. Studying the soil and scientifically managing it alone may wipe -off basic problems like the incidence of some pests and diseases and soil nutrient depletion. Taking other appropriate measures to control pests and diseases should be the next important strategy. Finding the loopholes in the storage and marketing of Sikkim Mandarin and defining appropriate strategies to mitigate those remain the major scope of this study. This review is based on available secondary data and observations made on farm visits.