Citrus Industry Profile

One of the most valuable and prominent crops in the Philippines is citrus. It thrives within a soil pH range of 5.0 to 7.5 and can be cultivated in various soil types. Citrus plants grow well in both tropical and subtropical regions and are adaptable to flat soil, steep hillsides, and rolling terrain. With access to irrigation, citrus can be grown in areas with year-round, evenly distributed rainfall as well as regions experiencing extended dry periods, as regular and timely irrigation is essential. The Philippines takes pride in its diverse array of citrus fruits, including calamansi, mandarin, pummelo, sweet orange, lemon, and lime.

Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya was designated as the Citrus Capital of Luzon. Kasibu, located in the eastern part of Nueva Vizcaya covers approximately 318.8 square kilometers, with 529 hectares dedicated exclusively to citrus production. The town is renowned for its citrus farms and orchards and is a notable source of calamandarin oranges, mandarin (satsuma and ponkan), and pummelos. In Nueva Vizcaya alone, 42 citrus varieties are cultivated (Idquival, et al. 2023).

Problems in the Industry

The citrus production in the Philippines is constrained by several problems including: low yield and inferior fruit quality due to high pest incidence, low level of orchard management and farm inputs, and low adoption level of improved production management practices.

Data Source: Philippine Statistics Authority update as of July 1, 2025

Data Source: Philippine Statistics Authority update as of July 1, 2025

Data Source: Philippine Statistics Authority update as of July 1, 2025

Data Source: Philippine Statistics Authority update as of July 1, 2025

Data Source: Philippine Statistics Authority update as of July 1, 2025

Data Source: Philippine Statistics Authority update as of July 1, 2025

Citrus Policies

ISP for Citrus

Research areas under the Council’s Industry Strategic S&T Program (ISP) for Citrus aim to support the industry through initiatives to increase yield, and reduce pest and disease incidence and postharvest losses.