Retired scientist ignites 'Orange Revolution' to fight citrus greening

HARGILL - Five years ago, Dr. Mani Skaria, then a plant pathologist at the Texas A&M University-Kingsville Citrus Center at Weslaco, encouraged the citrus growers he worked with to think outside the box. He urged them to ignite what he called the Orange Revolution.
Too many factors, including exotic diseases, high land prices and urbanization, were slowly squeezing veteran citrus growers out of the business, he said. The citrus industry wasn't doing well and it was time for growers to change their longtime cultural practices.
Skaria's revolution, named after Dr. Norman Borlaug's Green Revolution and his life-saving wheat improvement projects of the mid-20th century, called for growers to switch to high-density planting using micro-budded trees that produce fruit quickly.
Skaria reasoned that the only way to stay one step ahead of tree-killing diseases and prohibitive expenses was to produce more citrus fruit per acre quicker using cost-effective methods.
"Back then, I was talking the talk with the field experience I'd had with micro-budded citrus," Skaria said. "But now, I'm walking the talk, encouraged by extraordinary field successes with micro-budded trees planted between 2008-2013 in at least seven South Texas locations."
After a 25-year career with the Texas A&M University System, Skaria retired in March and began practicing what he had been preaching. In a partnership with others, Skaria founded MicroTech LLC, which purchased a large tract of land outside Hargill in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. The company has begun producing and planting citrus trees while workers build what Skaria says is a state-of-the art facility that eventually will be emulated globally. see more at today.agrilife....

[@Pepesplants]

I must have missed something here. I see that you are producing more plants cheaper and planting them at high density. What I failed to see is how you are making any difference in curing Citrus Greening Disease?

[@ShaggyDogg0128]

I think his concept is maybe not losing time planting to harvest? Also cheaper to replace once they do get disease? Planting triple the amount per acre. Kinda like coffee. Let them produce a couple of years then chop 1 acre down while the other plot is in production. Then just keep rotating it. That's my guess. I'd like to see more of that film

[@SithSereyPheap1]

That's absolutely brilliant.Thank you Dr.Skaria for your scientific contribution to the world !!

[@profarmer9087]

Provide this technology also India citrus growers farmer.

[@iqtidarbaig8532]

what is plant to plant distance and inter row distance.

[@-zamora2147]

What is the spacing of the trees?

[@waqarghanisial2504]

Awesome, Thanks for your research & develop, what i heard is 600 plants per Accor, can I import plants @ 21cent+transportation?
Thanks & Regards

[@robertsamson4610]

Some of these questions are over 5 yrs. old and not one of them has ever been answered.

[@BINBINTILYAS]

Gr8 concept, is this practiced in India?? if Yes Where??

[@Xlr8ive]

You could probably tell exactly how well this guy is doing by looking him up, but I would caution anyone against thinking densification will reduce disease.

[@sudhakarsasanool9006]

Need plants

[@KTx-nj8ei]

Is there a website so I can order a fruit tree too?

[@abdulwahabyusufshehu7891]

Hi, My name is Abdulwahab Yusuf Shehu, and I have watched your video many times again and again, my question is do you engage in the sales of these orange trees or to be clearer, how can I get access to these trees on a large scale say 2000 pieces if i need them. will you sell the seeds and instruct on how to nuture or you can transport them accross continents? thank you.

[@waqarghanisial2504]

use dripping and liquid fertilizer and pesticides to improve productivity ☺Grew & Shine ☆

[@waqarghanisial2504]

Dr, Mani Skaria, Nice goggles and invention, R&D Thanks

[@nandininandu657]

Where I can get this plants in INDIA

[@anarkhalil]

Are these trees grafted?

[@rajapakistannni]

is it produced by tissuculture.

[@mohsinmohsin9328]

Need plants

[@waqarghanisial2504]

Hey Doc or any buddy could tell me
What is the average per Plant yield, through high density plantation of orange.
Thanks

[@junaidmalik855]

Sir what should be the distance between a plant? I’m from Pakistan and working on a ultra high density orange plantation, it would be really appreciated if you could get in touch via any mean of communication. Thankyou!

[@kannankathirvel2748]

500 plant per acre

[@profarmer9087]

I am citures farmer kinnow farmer form east Punjab , which spacing u to think ideal for kinnow in high density, our area facing problem of phatophitora, psilla , and greening