What a single orange tree can do for you

Jun 22, 2017

Most orange varieties start producing fruits after 18 months of planting.

(Credit: Umar Nsubuga)

AGRIBUSINESS


The average cost of an orange across city markets is sh300 each. This is quite high, given the fact that one orange can only be mixed in a single glass of water.

The high cost of oranges has a direct bearing on the orange juice whose cost has also increased. If a family of four requires at least four oranges every two days to make good juice, at the current price, this family will spend at least sh1,200 to buy oranges every two days.

And yet, if you planned beforehand, you would not be paying this high price. For those who have space in their compound, a little innovation can relieve you of this heavy cost.

There are good orange plants on the market at the moment. They can be got from National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) research centres or from private fruit tree dealers.

Most orange varieties start producing fruits after 18 months of planting. The average cost per tree is sh2,000.

According to Twaha Kakooza at Shatwa Mixed Farm in Kayunga and has over four acres, oranges do not need so much care. "A little manure before planting and some spraying quarterly is all that it takes. A single tree will barely take three feet of your space", he says.

The oranges will start fruiting at 18 months and will continue doing so for many years to come.

Kakooza adds that during a single season, a well looked-after orange tree can produce between 500 and 700 fruits. These will of course be so much for domestic consumption.

You will sell some of them and buy sugar to make your juice. Right?

Some of the fruits are so big that each of them goes for sh700. Each seedling (grafted) costs between sh2,000 and sh3,000.

Visit farm shops for the best pesticides to use or an extension worker in your locality at the sub-county offices.​


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