What is the story about?
Nagpur, Maharashtra’s winter capital, has long been known as the Orange City of India, a title rooted in its century-old citrus legacy and its position as the country’s largest centre for orange production, trading and distribution.
The title stems from the city’s dominance in the cultivation of Nagpur mandarin oranges, a variety recognised for its thin peel, bright colour and high juice content.
The region’s distinctive black soil and climate conditions have made it an ideal citrus belt, with large tracts across Nagpur, Warud, Saoner, Katol, Narkhed, Kalmeshwar and neighbouring districts devoted to orange farming. Nagpur oranges also holds a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, cementing its identity as native to the region.
Historically, orange cultivation in the region is believed to have expanded during the era of the Bhonsle dynasty, when orchards around Nagpur began supplying fruit to nearby kingdoms. By the late 19th century, Nagpur’s oranges were well-established in trade routes across central India.
Today, the city remains a major node in India’s citrus economy. Maharashtra continues to be among the country’s top mandarin-producing states, with Nagpur at the centre of the supply chain. According to Maharashtra State Agriculture Department, 40 lakh hectare land was under orange cultivation in Nagpur District as of 2020. The city hosts key wholesale mandis, pack-houses and cold-storage facilities where oranges are graded, sorted and shipped to markets nationwide.
India has also been working to increase the global footprint of Nagpur’s oranges. In recent seasons, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has facilitated export consignments to destinations such as Dubai, part of efforts to develop Nagpur district as an organised orange cluster, according to a release from the Ministry of Commerce.
The city's local processing capacity is also expanding. In September this year, the government granted a two-year extension for completing modern orange-processing centres in Vidarbha, intended to boost value-added products and stabilise farmer incomes, The Times of India reported.
Despite cyclical challenges such as unseasonal rainfall and post-harvest losses, industry officials say Nagpur’s citrus economy remains resilient. Strong domestic demand ensures that the bulk of the crop is absorbed within India, while gradual improvements in storage and logistics continue to support higher realisations for growers.
With its mix of heritage, agricultural strength and expanding trade networks, Nagpur’s identity as the Orange City remains firmly intact, a cultural and economic emblem that continues to define the region.
The title stems from the city’s dominance in the cultivation of Nagpur mandarin oranges, a variety recognised for its thin peel, bright colour and high juice content.
The region’s distinctive black soil and climate conditions have made it an ideal citrus belt, with large tracts across Nagpur, Warud, Saoner, Katol, Narkhed, Kalmeshwar and neighbouring districts devoted to orange farming. Nagpur oranges also holds a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, cementing its identity as native to the region.
Historically, orange cultivation in the region is believed to have expanded during the era of the Bhonsle dynasty, when orchards around Nagpur began supplying fruit to nearby kingdoms. By the late 19th century, Nagpur’s oranges were well-established in trade routes across central India.
Today, the city remains a major node in India’s citrus economy. Maharashtra continues to be among the country’s top mandarin-producing states, with Nagpur at the centre of the supply chain. According to Maharashtra State Agriculture Department, 40 lakh hectare land was under orange cultivation in Nagpur District as of 2020. The city hosts key wholesale mandis, pack-houses and cold-storage facilities where oranges are graded, sorted and shipped to markets nationwide.
India has also been working to increase the global footprint of Nagpur’s oranges. In recent seasons, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has facilitated export consignments to destinations such as Dubai, part of efforts to develop Nagpur district as an organised orange cluster, according to a release from the Ministry of Commerce.
The city's local processing capacity is also expanding. In September this year, the government granted a two-year extension for completing modern orange-processing centres in Vidarbha, intended to boost value-added products and stabilise farmer incomes, The Times of India reported.
Despite cyclical challenges such as unseasonal rainfall and post-harvest losses, industry officials say Nagpur’s citrus economy remains resilient. Strong domestic demand ensures that the bulk of the crop is absorbed within India, while gradual improvements in storage and logistics continue to support higher realisations for growers.
With its mix of heritage, agricultural strength and expanding trade networks, Nagpur’s identity as the Orange City remains firmly intact, a cultural and economic emblem that continues to define the region.
