Dragon Fruit Farming: India's New Cash Crop

0:00It's March 27th. Welcome to Global News Today, powered by AI and Connected Worldwide. Auron Strenovas left his finance job in 2020 and poured his savings into the family farm in southern India's Karnataka state. He swished from coconuts and mangoes to dragon fruit, a climbing cactus that needs little water and resists diseases better than many fruits. After visiting dozens of farms and crunching numbers like stockpicks, he now grows it on 11 acres. Holding around 220 tons a year, dragon fruit farming has exploded in India since then, inspired by top producer Vietnam. Prime Minister Modi gave it a shout out in 2020 and adoption spread fast as farmers saw the steady profits. Unlike seasonal crops, it harbours for six months straight, letting a family managed one acre for up to 15 tons annually. Farmers have gotten creative with challenges like nighttime pollination. In Karnataka, Strenovas uses honeybees to handle it naturally.

1:00Meanwhile, in Karala's wild areas, growers like Sherady Ma pick self-pollinating varieties to dodge snakes, boars, and even elephants at night. This diversification has stabilized incomes hit by fallen coffee and pepper prices. Researchers are hunting the best varieties for India, favoring large red flesh fruits that locals love for taste and looks. Just like Dr. Sanelik Mari have tested samples nationwide, creating elite lines for higher yields. But Indian farms lag global standards at 15 to 25 tons per hectare versus over 30 elsewhere. To compete on world markets, India needs smarter setups like dense trellises, better cooling, and cold chains for exports. Treating dragon fruit as a premium crop could turn newcomers into powerhouses soon.