Beetle threat hangs over Tamenglong Orange farms/fest
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 09 2012: There is strong possibility of the annual Orange Festival at Tamenglong district headquarters becoming history in case the department concerned does not intervene to protect orange plants from a destructive beetle species.

After causing massive devastation to Yongchak trees across the State, particularly in the hill areas, swarms of Asian Long-horned Beetle have started to attack orange plants in Tamenglong district with Thingou village under Nungba sub-division being the worst hit.

Located about 9 kilometres from the sub-divisional headquarters and having about 48 households, Thingou village is known for its orange productivity and onslaught from the beetle species has led to withering of the orange plants, a phenomenon common at orange plantation sites of the district.

Oranges grown in Tamenglong district are considered to be the juiciest ones in India but the productivity has been witnessing a sharp decline in the past few years with the root cause being these beetles feeding on the stem of orange plants.

The attack from the particular beetle has had an adverse impact on the economy of the district's populace as orange plantation has been the main source of income for many families.

It is said that the beetle invasion at orange farms started about 6/7 years back.

A near barren orange plant at Tamenglong

For 48 years old Adim kamei, who used to earn about Rs 1 lac income from her orange orchard annually, the beetle invasion is posing serious threat to survival of the family as the yearly revenue is said to have dipped to a miserly Rs 15,000 this year.

Speaking to The Sangai Express, the mother of nine children confiding that there used to be no problem in the education for her children prior to the beetle impact, lamented that misfortune brought by the beetle swarms has compelled her to work as rail-line construction labourer or work at cultivation sites of others to sustain family livelihood.

Heiribob plants, a variety of citrus fruit, are also equally affected by the beetle invasion, Adim said while informing that she is trying to replace her orange farm with banana and Wang tree plantations.

Plantation of new orange trees (sapling) also turned out to be a failed endeavour as the beetles return to wreak havoc, she added.

As the orange trees are longer providing the desired income most of the villagers have started to cut down the orange trees for use as fire-woods.

Food crop resources of Thingou villagers have also suffered severely as majority of the terrace cultivation sites have been possessed by the Government for the rail project.

For the few remaining terrace cultivation sites the productivity is measly as there is no irrigation facility and entirely dependent on seasonal rainfall.

The severity of water shortage can be assumed from the fact that one has to pay Rs 200 for 500 litres of water.

According to Project Director of District Rural Development Authority, Tamenglong N Praveen, about six years back when he was posted at SDO, Nungba, Thingou villagers were a satisfied and prosperous lot as they had healthy income from orange plantation.

informing that consultations with subject experts are underway for revival of orange farms in Thingou village, the Project Director also confided that efforts are on to provide orange saplings under the Manipur Government NREGS programme.

When contacted Senior Assistant Professor (Entomology) of Central Agricultural University Khumukcham Ibohal opined that tendency of the orange planters to reap the fruits only and neglecting the plants along with absence of effective Government programmes to protect the orange plants are some factors for the widespread devastation of orange farms.

further informing that apart from devastating over 20 lakhs Yongchak trees, Asian Long-horned Beetles have started to attack Orange and Guava trees, he stated that the beetle species can also survive on dry tree trunks.

maintaining that the beetle species was not traceable in Manipur about a decade back, the Assistant Professor opined that there is strong possibility of the Asian Long-horned Beetle reaching the State along with timber loads and logs from Myanmar side.

The global warming phenomenon providing suitable climatic condition for these beetles to survive as well as multiple their population also cannot be ruled out, he pointed out.

Suggesting immediate Government intervention to replenish orange plantation, Ibohal observed that failure to anticipate the beetle threat might lead to the annual Orange Festival becoming a history.