Farmers attracted to dragon fruit farming

By Our Correspondent,Urlabari, Sep.1: Farmers of Pathari Shanishchare and Sunawarshi Municipality of Morang district have started planting dragon fruit in the field where they used to grow paddy in the past.

Farmers are attracted to dragon fruit as it gives better income than paddy cultivation.

Ganesh Turchha Rai of Sunawarshi Municipality-1 started dragon fruit farming three years ago in three bighas of the field where he used to grow paddy twice a year.

Rai was a construction entrepreneur. After his business was closed due to COVID-19 pandemic, he shifted to dragon fruit farming to find opportunities in agriculture.

He said, "In the early days, dragon fruit farming was new not only for the locals but in the entire district. Relatives and friends burst out laughing to see the planting of dragon fruit saplings in the fields where I used to produce 300 man of rice annually."

However, Rai worked day and night as he was a new farmer.

Rai, who started dragon fruit farming with an ambitious goal of earning Rs. 3 million annually, has already invested Rs. 15 million.

He said that 40 per cent of the cost has been recovered by receiving two seasons of production.

"I do not think that the investment will be wasted as the income from this plant can be taken for 20-25 years," he said.

Jai Bahadur Tamang, leader of Nepali Congress, Koshi Province, who is engaged in dragon fruit farming alongside politics, is now seen more in dragon farming than in politics.

Outgoing ward chairman of Pathari Shanishchare Municipality-6, Tamang has started farming with the aim of sending dragon fruit to the market at the price of apples and oranges.

He said that he planted dragon fruits by filling soil in the land where he produced paddy two times a year.

He said that he produced 250 kgs of dragon fruit in two bighas of land during 11 months.

According to him, only half of the 9,000 plants of dragons have started to yield fruit.

Tamang said that he sold fruits worth Rs. 87,500 in 11 months from the field that hardly produces 140 man of paddy.

Stating that it is defined as a fruit eaten by the rich, he said that they are preparing to sell the fruit at a maximum of Rs. 250 per kg.

He said that he invested around Rs. 15 million to cultivate dragon fruit in two and a half bighas of land.

He said that instead of raising investment in 2-3 years, he will start processing by expanding the farming area.

"Average Nepalis eat fruits only during festivals and when they are sick. We are always in favour of producing and supplying fruit at affordable prices," said Tamang.

After Rai and Tamang started commercial cultivation of dragon fruit, now their neighbours are also following suit.

According to Tamang, who is also the president of Dragon Cultivation Entrepreneurs' Association, Koshi Province, dragon cultivation is being done on only 12 bighas of land in Pathari Shanishare and Sunawarshi.

Khagendra Limbu planted dragon fruits in two bigha and five kattha, Manish Rai in two bighas and Hemeshwar Rai planted dragon fruits in two bighas.

There are more farmers who plant dragon fruit in less than a bigha area.