“I have planted many different crops before but all in loss and vain. Only dragon fruit is the ray that fuels my hope and makes it success”, conveys Nongthombam Indrakumar Luwang of Wangjing Sorokkhaibam Leikai, Thoubal District, Manipur. He started planting dragon fruit since 2015. Before that he planted grapes and other seasonal vegetables but it could not make profit despite of all his efforts and energy. At the very first year of planting dragon fruit there was a severe hailstorm at his field but he could not found major damage of dragon fruit. It made an understanding to Mr. Indrakumar that dragon fruit can be grown at any situation and so he started planting more dragon fruits. From the internet Indrakumar came to know about dragon fruits and he asked on of his son to send some sapling from Shillong with Rs. 350 per sapling.
He could earn around (6-7) lakhs of rupees per year by selling dragon fruit of different varieties at his own farm. He also sells sapling and fruit bearing dragon fruit plants. Over other crops dragon fruit has many advantages such as less labor required, high market demand, high price and climate resilient, he added. Again it makes more beneficial, integrating dragon fruits with other crops.
Interacting with another dragon fruit farmer, Yengkhom Asuthosh Singh (32yrs) from Kakching Makha Leikai, Kakching district narrated that he first started planting 50 dragon fruit as a trial in 2019 after returning home leaving his company job. At his farm he has planted around (1600-1700) plants of around 16 varieties. One plant of dragon fruit bears around 25 fruits of total (5-6) kilogram. In one season he could make a profit of around 6 lakhs rupees by selling the fruits. There is high demand of dragon fruit in the market and even the demands could not be met. Fruits from his farm are sold at different markets such as Thoubal, Kakching , Imphal etc. At whole sale price he sold for Rs 250 per kilogram. The harvesting period is normally from May to November of every year. As the price of other seasonal vegetables fluctuate in the market from time to time it is very hard to make profit. But for dragon fruit it does not have problem rather than it is more profitable as the price is more than 5 to 6 times of other crops. Once it is planted, it last for (15 to 20) years, it required less labor and it can tolerate drought and warm temperature, so it is best to cultivate dragon fruit to make a sustainable agriculture, he added. But special needs to be taken care particularly during winter period as there are possibilities of fungal infection. He encourage the youths of the state to focus on sustainable agriculture to make Manipur a self reliant state.
Dragon fruit (Selenicereus spp.) belongs to the Cactaceae family which includes various species of cacti. The Dragon fruit comes in several varieties, primarily distinguished by the color of their skin and flesh. Some of the common varieties of dragon fruit are White fleshed pink skin dragon fruit (Selenicereus undates), Red flesh red skin dragon fruit(Selenicereus costaricensis), White flesh yellow skin dragon fruit (Selenicereus megalanthus) and purple flesh pink or red skin dragon fruit(hybrid varieties) etc. It grows in tropical and subtropical regions. It thrives in warm climates with well-drained soil and plenty of sunlight. The ideal growing conditions is 20°C to 35°C, even it can grows in 40°C but cannot tolerate frost. Dragon fruit requires sunlight for (6-8) hours daily. It can produce fruit within (1-2) years after planting and yields fruit (4-6) times a year in optimal conditions. It requires less watering other traditional fruits. It is a drought –tolerant plant but needs watering during flowering and fruiting period. It is rich in antioxidants, Vitamin C, fiber, Iron and popular for its medicinal value.
As dragon fruit is a cactus species and thrives in warm climates, it is resistant to water shortages and making it suitable for rising global temperatures. It absorbs carbon dioxide helping reduce greenhouse gases as it is a fast growing plant. It is becoming an important crop for climate- smart agriculture. Dragon fruit is gaining economic importance due to its climate resilience, high market value and rising demand for its nutritional and medicinal benefits. The retail price can be (3-5) times higher than common fruit.
In this regard, Dr Kh. Premlata Devi, Subject Matter Specialist (SMS), Horticulture, KVK Thoubal, Manipur, expressed that the pink and white skin dragon fruit varieties are common in Manipur while some farmers also started planting yellow skin dragon fruit. Before planting the plant, farmers can do some maintenance such as putting vermi compost and neem cake etc. in the soil so that they can have better yield without any further nutrient input. As it belongs to the cactus family it can be grown at any dry place without water and even at place with less fertility. There is no specific timing for planting and watering of dragon fruit. After planting, moisture is essential for dragon fruit roots to grow properly but it should be well-balanced to avoid water logging. As the cladodes of dragon fruit are modified stem it perform photosynthesis and store water, so it enables the plant to survive in arid conditions. Dr. Premlata further stated that the rising in temperature and altered rainfall patterns have affected many vegetables and fruits in the state. As dragon fruit is favorable in dry places and dry conditions it can grow properly in Manipur with the rise in temperature. Moreover because of its nutritional value which contained high anthocyanins (antioxidants) and with increasing health concerned, farmers focused on planting dragon fruit purchasing sapling Manipur and other parts of India. Now planting dragon fruit is more successful with the rise in temperature in the state. Farmers found it as more profitable and less maintenance fruit as compared to other vegetables and fruits, she added. Once it grows it will last for around 20 years and its stem can make other new plants. Other two or three crops can also be planted with dragon fruit as it helps in cross pollination producing bigger fruits. Even it is best to plant different varieties of dragon fruit in a particular field. She appealed the farmers to apply more scientific knowledge and practices in cultivating dragon fruit for more profitability and sustainability.
Manipur’s favorable climate has encouraged local farmers to adopt dragon fruit farming. Initiatives in regions like Wangjing and Kakching have showcased successful cultivation practices. Climate Change poses significant challenges to agriculture in Manipur, affecting traditional crops like rice, potatoes and pineapples. Rising temperature and altered rainfall patterns have led to reduced yields and increased vulnerability to pests and diseases. However, dragon fruit being a cactus species, exhibits certain resilience to such stresses such as drought resistance and temperature tolerance but climate change also affects its growth, yield and quality. To mitigate the challenges posed by climatic conditions, farmers in Manipur can consider some strategies such as improving drainage systems by raising beds to prevent water logging during heavy rains, adopting Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices for managing pests and diseases effectively, integrating dragon fruit with other crops can reduce economic risks associated with climate variability. Participating in agricultural extension programs can equip farmers with knowledge on best practices and climate adaptation strategies. By embracing these measures, farmers in Manipur can optimize dragon fruit cultivation, ensuring sustainability and profitability in the face of climate change.
(This article is filed under the 5th State Level media Fellowship Programme on Climate Change under the sponsorship of Directorate of Environment and Climate Change, Government of Manipur.)
