Chandigarh, January 6 — With rising input costs and water concerns, farmers in Punjab are increasingly exploring dragon fruit cultivation, a crop that offers higher income potential and significantly lower water consumption than paddy.
The cultivation of dragon fruit began gaining attention in Punjab around 2016 and has since spread across multiple districts. Barnala currently has the largest area under cultivation at about 15 hectares, followed by Jalandhar, Patiala and Ludhiana, officials said.
“Once planted, dragon fruit plants continue to yield for many years, which reduces recurring costs for farmers,” said an officer associated with horticulture extension services. “This makes it a long-term investment rather than a seasonal risk.”
According to agriculture officials, the plants begin fruiting after 14 months and achieve full production by the second year. The crop is harvested between July and November, while consumer demand remains consistent across seasons.
Farmers have also noted that the crop requires minimal pesticide use. “Dragon fruit plants are largely free from pest attacks, which reduces the need for chemical spraying,” the officer said.
Cultivation has expanded to districts including Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Amritsar, Ropar, Fatehgarh Sahib and Tarn Taran, among others. Multiple varieties such as Red Dragon-1, White Dragon-1 and American Beauty are currently being grown.
Officials said the shift towards dragon fruit aligns with efforts to diversify agriculture in the state. “Compared to paddy, water usage is extremely low, and farmers can also grow subsidiary crops, improving overall farm income,” the officer added.
