In 1980, a task force appointed by the Ministry of Agriculture suggested the need of strengthening of research on citrus in central India after their survey during 24 to 26 April.

Similarly, quinquennial review team (QRT) of Indian Institute of Horticulture Research (IIHR), Bangalore furthered the recommendation.

The initial mandate of the 'station' was limited: The mandate at the time of establishment of the Centre was to undertake research on mandarin and acid lime to increase the productivity through developing better varieties, standardizing appropriate agrotechniques, integrated pest and disease management and developing technologies for improved storage, packing processing and waste utilization.The centre has been accused by farmers to not having tested methods in a real farm.

Its recommendation of chemicals (pesticides and fertilizers) has been criticized for its continued recommendations of the use of pesticides against the latent and now widespread Phytophthora fungus, which in the past threatened in tandem with such factors as low rainfall or drought, selection of non-robust mother plant for rootstock and a prolonged use of chemicals, a near complete wipeout of the Nagpur orange.

The NRCC has insisted that experimental studies of organic vs chemical cultivation has produced no significant differences in its own run farms.

The farmers differ by their experiences by media accounts, reporting robustness against the fungus and high yields after a switch to organic methods.