According to Tanaka, 1994, citrus might have appeared on the globe about 30 million years ago but the history of Junar production in Nepal is only about 250 years ( Kaini, 2043).Farmers used to grow few trees of Junar near their houses for home consumption till late seventies and then after, the economic importance of Junar was started to realize. Junar development program started to receive support of the government from the sixth plan period (1980-85). The National Citrus Priority Program was initiated in 20 mid-hill districts of Nepal in the fiscal year 1983/84 and this program accorded high priority to Junar development in Ramechhap and Sindhuli. In order to support implementation of this program, a Special Junar Production Program was then launched by the Janakpur Agriculture Development Project (JICA funded) in these two districts giving emphasis on establishment of private nurseries and Junar orchards.A very strong commitment of the government along with an effective organizational setup was the specialty of this program. The initiation of the Horticulture Development Project in 1985 with the technical cooperation of the Government of Japan added one more milestone in Junar development. This project was implemented for 12 years including 2 years of bridging period and Junar was the designated crop for Sindhuli and Ramechhap.
During its first phase, the project emphasized on development of production technology and in the second phase, transfer of developed technology got top priority. In order to make extension services effective for the transfer of technology, emphasis was given on training and establishment of demo-farms at the farmers’ fields. The Agriculture Perspective Plan (APP) implemented from 1997 for a period of 20-years has recognized Junar as a high value commodity. The APP Support Program (APP/SP) funded by the DFID had also contributed to the Junar Development Program of Sindhuli and Ramechhap districts in the recent past. All past efforts were, mostly, focused on plantation and post-harvest handlings and marketing activities were ignored. Furthers more, farmers were reluctant to manage Junar orchards due to the market problem. Realizing these facts, the OVOP JunarProgram has been started from 2006/07 giving emphasis on improvement of orchard management, post-harvest handlings and value chain functioning
