Dragon fruit: A super-fruit in the Eastern Ghats near Visakhapatnam

Amidst lush green hills and valleys of the Eastern Ghats, a small stretch of farmland in Ananthagiri is leading the way towards sustainable ways of growing dragon fruit. Indigenous to Central and South America, dragon fruit was once only found on refrigerated shelves in supermarkets. With an aim to bring this fruit to the local markets of Visakhapatnam and make it easily accessible, Justin Joseph embarked on a dragon fruit growing journey on three acres of land in Ananthagiri, about 90 kms from Visakhapatnam. An Adventure Sports and Corporate Leadership Instructor, Justin had been working in the Ananthagiri area for the past few years for the social welfare of tribal communities. “In this part, pepper and coffee are commonly grown. But while I was researching these, I came to know about dragon fruit, its low cost and how it has emerged as a super crop in India in the last few years,” says Jestin. He traveled to Solapur and Aurangabad in Maharashtra, which were centers of dragon fruit production in India, six years ago, and spent time there to understand the techniques and challenges of cultivating the fruit.

Although dragon fruit is not a native product of India and is mainly grown in Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, the United States and Vietnam, production of the fruit began in India in the early 1990s. Its production was initially limited to home gardens, but then farmers from different states started producing it, increasing the popularity of the fruit. “Dragon fruit cultivation requires less water and can be grown in diverse climatic conditions,” says Justin. He initially started growing fruits on two acres of land and five years later he expanded his cultivation to nine acres, including a farming patch at L Kota in Vizianagaram district. “I harvest about four tonnes per acre and sell it in the wholesale markets of Visakhapatnam,” he says. The dragon fruit plant is a member of the cacti family. It is a fast-growing, semi-epiphytic vine requiring a vertical pole-like support with a ring at the top. Due to the economic life span of more than 20 years, this makes dragon fruit an extremely profitable crop for farmers.

Dragon fruit from a farm in Ananthagiri near Araku, 110 km from Visakhapatnam. The agricultural enterprise is managed by the tribals of the area and is witnessing encouraging yields in the last five years. photo credit: KR Deepak

However, success came with its share of obstacles and challenges for Justin. Ananthagiri’s excess rains and damp weather were one of the first hurdles in the way of crop production. As a result, he lost over 4,000 plants and incurred a loss of Rs 2 lakh in the first year itself. To make things more challenging, the crop was infected with a fungal disease called anthracnose (Coletotrichum gliosporioides). “The fungal attack spreads rapidly and affects the crop in no time,” he says. While he fought a number of methods to solve the issue, including the use of fungicides and insecticides, the solution came in the form of the simple blade that solved the problem. “All I had to do was cut off the infected area and expose that area to the sun to dry out,” he says. In less than two years, he can completely eliminate the fungicide or pesticide and is growing fruit with natural farming methods.

A view of Dragon Farm at Ananthagiri near Araku, 110 km from Visakhapatnam. The agricultural enterprise is managed by the tribals of the area and is witnessing encouraging yields in the last five years. Photo : KR Deepak / The Hindu | photo credit: KR Deepak

The peak season of dragon fruit harvest is from May to November, which sees four major waves of crop production. Jestin is currently growing two varieties of dragon fruit – Alice White and Malaysian Red. “These are the two most common varieties which have a good demand in the local market. Ellis White gives better yield than the red variety with a yield of about eight tonnes per acre,” he says. He is currently in the process of setting up a nursery for the plants.

A view of Dragon Farm at Ananthagiri near Araku, 110 km from Visakhapatnam. The agricultural enterprise is managed by the tribals of the area and is witnessing encouraging yields in the last five years. , photo credit: KR Deepak

To make the experience of visiting the farm enjoyable for families, Jestine has created an adventure park with a range of activities. Visitors can walk to the grounds of the Dragon Fruit Farm or experience sky cycling at an elevation of 20 feet above ground level. Vertical climbing, low rope course, high net area, trampoline and boating for kids are some of the other attractions here. To get the best way to experience the area and the adventure park during monsoons, plan a stay at the Hanging Pods in the grounds.