Bitter Orange

The bitter truth about bitter orange: Probably one of the easiest to grow citrus plants, Bitter Orange shrub was found virtually in the backyard of every household in the subcontinent, though it was never grown commercially.
Bitter Orange plant, combined with other plant varieties can also be used in soil conservation and capacity enhancement , as it is not only a great soil binder, it also helps in the retention of ground water levels.
From a Nutraceutical perspective, the plant and its fruit are primary sources of proto Alkaloids, Synephrine and Limonene.
The extracts and oil from the peel, fruit and flower are used by Pharma, Nutra and even the cosmetic industry.
The plant can be grown extensively in dry semi-arid regions and in soils which are loamy.
The plant has huge potential for India, however, it is rarely grown as a plantation or horticultural crop and as a result, the fruit is imported by the industry, chiefly from the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern regions.
A former field scientist with SCI, who had worked in Bund3lkhand, Jharkhand and the agency areas of North Andhra, Mr R Narasimha said, ” This is an ideal crop to be grown in dry, loamy, semi-arid regions with limited rainfall. Back 8n the 1960s, it was introduced in overgrazing zones as a soil binder and enricher by the soil conservation department. However, the plants medicinal, nutritional and commercial value was never exploited, only because its fruit, it cannot be eaten.”
Though, theoretically a lot of research work has been on, the State of India is yet to take any measures to commercialise the produce. According to sources, India has the potential to become the single largest exporters of bitter orange. However, no steps have been taken in this direction

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