Farmers attracted towards dragon fruit farming

BY ARJUN KAFLE,Syangja, Aug. 19: Kaligandaki Rural Municipality has started generating income from dragon farming. The model dragon fruit orchard, initiated by the municipality in the fiscal year 2019/20, has begun producing fruits.

The rural municipality initially began dragon fruit farming on 24 ropanis of land in Birgha of Ward No. 4 and on 1 ropani in Jaipate of Ward No. 5 as a trial. The fruit has been harvested and is ready for sale.

Khim Bahadur Thapa, Chairman of the rural municipality, said that the municipality brought dragon fruit saplings from the Kavre and Rautahat districts and expanded farming by leasing local land for 15 years. He said that the municipality has started producing saplings on its own.

Chairman Thapa said that the rural municipality started dragon fruit farming to boost local farmers' income and it had been yielding good results. 

Last year, the rural municipality earned over Rs. 150,000 by selling dragon fruit and this year it has sold dragon fruit worth Rs. 246,000. 

Chairperson Thapa said they decided to cultivate dragon fruit to utilise the rural municipality's barren land. The federal government and the rural municipality together invested Rs. 9 million in the farming project.

Agriculture Officer Anup Paudel informed that 4,800 dragon fruit saplings were planted on 1,600 pillars. He said the rural municipality had employed two workers to maintain the regular upkeep of the farm.

As part of the farm expansion programme, the municipality arranged a 50 per cent subsidy for dragon fruit saplings and a 100 per cent subsidy for pillar construction. The locally produced fruit is consumed in the local market and is offered at a slightly lower price compared to other markets.

Paudel said that the municipality sold dragon fruit for Rs. 400 to 500 per kilogram. This cactus variety of fruit thrives in hot, dry climates and in areas where water doesn't accumulate. With proper fertilisation and care, the plant bears fruit within two years and is rich in minerals and vitamins.