The Khasi mandarin, known for its thin peel, rich aroma and honeyed sweetness, has long been more than just a fruit. It is a symbol of identity, pride and livelihood for generations of farmers across Meghalaya.
Cultivated for over a century in regions like East Khasi Hills, Ri-Bhoi and West Jaintia Hills, this GI-tagged fruit is deeply interwoven into the state’s cultural and economic fabric.
But in recent years, this prized orange has become rarer. Orchard after orchard, once heavy with fruit, have grown weary. Yields have dwindled, trees have aged and pests have crept in unnoticed. Despite more than 10,596 hectares under cultivation, productivity lags behind at just 4.8 tonnes per hectare, compared to the national average of 10.36 MT/ha. Farmers who once wore their orchards like a badge of honour began to question whether it was time to walk away.
“We used to wait eagerly for the harvest season,” recalls Persevere Rani, chairman of the Jirang Organic Farmer Producer Company, Umlakro, New Jirang. “But lately, we’ve been watching our trees give up. The fruit just drops before it’s ready. Some farmers have started shifting to other crops like areca nut just to survive.”
What was happening to the Khasi mandarin wasn’t just a farming problem, it was a cultural loss in slow motion.
That’s when a collaborative intervention under the TAMINER project, supported by the Gates Foundation and led by Palladium India, began to rewrite the story.
Recognising that reviving the Khasi mandarin required more than just technical tweaks, Palladium anchored a multi-partner approach that brought together scientific institutions, local organisations and the farmers themselves. In partnership with ICAR-NEH, Umiam, and with support from the Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (MBMA) and SeSTA (Seven Sisters Development Assistance), they designed a training and exposure visit for 41 farmers from the Jirang Organic FPC.
At ICAR’s campus, the farmers witnessed firsthand how scientific orchard management – grafting techniques, organic pest control, mulching, rejuvenation methods – could breathe new life into dying trees. What struck them was not just the information but the practicality. They could see it working and they could imagine doing it themselves.
“At ICAR Horticulture Farm, we believe that the key to transforming our farmers’ livelihoods lies in empowering them with scientific knowledge. While many still rely on traditional methods, we are committed to bridging that gap, offering quality planting materials, demonstration plots and continuous research-backed practices,” ICAR trainer Badapbiang Dohlin said. “From land preparation to pest management, our goal is to equip every farmer with the tools and confidence to grow healthier crops and reap better yields. But true change begins when farmers take that first step to learn and adopt these modern techniques.”
“For the first time in years, I felt hopeful,” said Rani. “Not just for my orchard, but for the future of this fruit. This wasn’t just about saving trees. It was about reclaiming something that belongs to us.”
With Meghalaya contributing 10 percent of the North East’s mandarin output and global interest rising for unique, organic produce, there is a real opportunity to reposition the Khasi mandarin as a premium product on the global stage.
But it will take more than attention to turn this into a movement. “Empowering farmers goes beyond increasing yields,” said Amit Patjoshi, CEO of Palladium India. “It’s about building resilient rural economies. With the right knowledge, tools, and market access, farmers can elevate the Khasi mandarin into a premium product on the global stage.”
