Farmers make good income from dragon fruit farming

By Hari Prasad Koirala,Urlabari, Dec. 10: Former ward chairman of Pathari Shanishchare Municipality-6 in Morang Jaya Bahadur Tamang is currently involved in commercial farming along with politics.

For the past three years, he is more often seen in his own farm than in political programmes, meetings and ceremonies.

As there is double economic benefit in fruits than in food crops, he has planted dragon fruit in paddy growing fields. 

Currently, seven farmers from Pathari Shanishchare Municipality-6 and Sunwarshi Municipality-1 in South Morang are cultivating dragon fruit on 15 bighas of land. 

Tamang, who has now planted dragon fruit in two-and-a-half-bighas of paddy fields, has sold fruit worth Rs. 2.5 million in September and October this year. 

Dragon fruit, which was sold for Rs. 600 per kilo last year, was sold for Rs. 350 per kg this year. 

The price has decreased after the increase in production, but the farmers are not at losses, he said. 

Tamang said that production needs to be increased further to replace the fruit imported from abroad.

According to him, he has so far invested Rs. 15 million in dragon fruit farming and 10 people are getting employment. 

His farm 'Purbanchal Multiple Agriculture Private Limited' is now developing as a source centre for dragon fruit.

Initially, Tamang planted only one variety of dragon fruit plants, but has now planted five varieties. 

"The taste also differs according to the variety. Consumers can eat the fruit in the taste they prefer. That is why I am looking for new varieties,” Tamang said. “On average, Nepalis eat fruits only during festivals and when they are sick. We are always striving to produce fruits at an affordable price."

Ganesh Turchha Rai of Sunwarshi Municiplaity-1 started dragon fruit farming on 3.5 bighas of paddy field four years ago.

Rai, who took up dragon cultivation to find opportunities in agriculture after the construction industry was disrupted by COVID-19 pandemic, is currently looking for expansion, improvement and new commercial markets for dragon fruit. 

According to him, he had started dragon fruit farming with an ambitious goal of earning Rs. 3 million rupees annually, and has already invested Rs. 1.5 million. 

He said, “After two seasons of production, 40 per cent of the cost has been covered. As income can be earned for 20-25 years, I do not think the investment will be wasted."

After realising that the low temperature in the cold season will affect production, Rai has managed the garden by lighting electricity lamps even at night.

According to the statistics, around 12,000 kg of dragon fruit was imported in the last fiscal year. 

Rai said that farmers who produce dragon fruit do not need to panic as it can be stored safely for three months.

After Tamang and Rai started commercial cultivation of dragon fruit, his neighbours are also emulating their fruits farming activities.