Dragon Fruit Bonanza For India

Dragon Fruit Bonanza For India

Dragon Fruit has its origin in Southern Mexico, Central America and South America. It was introduced during 1990 for its commercial cultivation in south Asian tropical countries. It is widely cultivated in South-East Asia, USA, Caribbean Islands, Australia throughout the tropical and sub-tropical world.

Farmers of Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Mizoram and Nagaland have already taken up its cultivation. Common names include Red Pitaya, Kamalam, Pitaya Roja.

In 2020, the total area under cultivation of Dragon Fruit in India is more than 3,000 ha. But is not even able to meet the domestic demand.

Dragon Fruit has its origin in Southern Mexico, Central America and South America. It was introduced during 1990 for its commercial cultivation in south Asian tropical countries. It is widely cultivated in South-East Asia, USA, Caribbean Islands, Australia throughout the tropical and sub-tropical world. It is a new introduction in India and the commercial cultivation is picking up.  

In India, the cultivation of the fruit is fast picking up and farmers of Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Mizoram and Nagaland have taken up its cultivation. In 2020, the total area under cultivation of Dragon Fruit in India is more than 3,000 ha. which is not able to meet the domestic demand, hence majority of the dragon fruits available in Indian market is imported from Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Sri Lanka. 

It is a climbing vine cactus species with most beautiful fruit in the family Cactaceae that has beautiful flowers and is nicknamed as ‘Noble woman’ or ‘Queen of the Night’. The juicy flesh of the fruit is delicious in taste.

The crop is hardy and can survive in any type of climatic condition favorable for flowering and fruiting and soil condition provided with good drainage. The reported rainfall requirement of dragon fruit is 1145- 2540 mm/year.  Dragon fruit plant prefers a dry tropical climate with an average temperature of 20-29ºC, but can withstand temperatures of 38-40ºC, and as low as 0ºC for short periods.

Dragon fruit plants can easily multiply through stem cutting. Generally 20-25cm long stem cuttings are used for planting. The cutting should be prepared one–two days prior to planting and the latex oozing out of cut is allowed to dry. The cutting should be taken from elite mother plants after the fruiting season. The cutting should be treated with fungicides to prevent diseases. These cuttings are planted in 12 x 30 cm size polyethylene bags, filled with 1:1:1 ratio of soil, farmyard manure and sand. The bags are kept at a shady place for rooting. Excess moisture should be avoided for prevention of rotting of cutting. These cutting roots profusely and become ready for planting with 5-6 months (Tripathi, et.al., 2014).

The planting season is generally Summer monsoon (June−August). Fruiting occurs in July−October in a 6-8 flushes of market quality fruits.

The Dragon fruit plants are fast growing vines and produce more thick dense of branches during the initial stage. The lateral buds and branches should be pruned to grow towards stands. Once vines reach up to the top of the stands the branches are then allowed to grow. The removal of tip of main stem is done to allow growth of new shoots to grow laterally and climb at the ring to form an umbrella like structure of vines where flowers will emanate and develop into fruits which would induce lateral branching. This pruning referred as structural pruning or making a structure on the trellis. The well grown vine may produce 30 to 50 branches in one year and may be more than 100 branches in-four years.

Weed control is an important operation in dragon fruit cultivation and the use of weed mat efficiently reduced the weeds growth and also aids in soil moisture conservation.

Local drip irrigation is beneficial for better yield and growth. Irrigation by flooding is not recommended as it wastes water and increases work of weeding. Approximately 2-4 litres of water weekly twice per plant is sufficient during the summer/dry days.

Dragon fruit is tolerant to major pests and diseases.

Ideal harvesting period for dragon fruit is June−October in India. The plant start yielding after 12-15 months from the date of planting.  Dragon fruits become ready for harvesting in 25-35 days after flowering. Usually outer bright green skin of immature fruit gradually turns into red at the end of ripening process. Proper time of harvesting was found after seven days of color transition. Only ripened fruit should be selected for harvesting so that harvesting can be done twice during week. Fruits are harvested manually using pruning knives without getting damaged.