Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Growing Dragon Fruits in India

I had the chance to visit India.Visiting India is not as easy as I thought.You have to get a visa before entering the country. It is exciting for me as this is my first visit there.
I flew from Kuala Lumpur to Chennai which took about  three and half hours. It was raining when I reached there at 10 pm local time. At Chennai Airport  I have to go at least one hour and half for immigration clearance compared to  KLIA for only two minutes.
I have to book hotel in Chennai before departure and it is compulsory.The hotel (3 star) was OK but very expensive RM450 per night (USD150).Mind you.
The next morning we drove to Thirupati via Redhills and  Thiruvallur, passing villages and small towns. I saw a lot of poverty in Southern India where pupils could be seen without shoes to schools, cramped in vehicles and so on. Most of the vehicles had air horns-horning is a must. Unlike, in Malaysia the pupils owned at least 3-4 pairs of shoes per year and transporation is easy.
Roughly, I could see paddy fields, mangoes and  sugar planting areas. Some of the areas were abundant which were not cultivated. As I reached the small town, it was very crowded due to only two-way lane. Shop-lots were very small and not organised.  I saw a lot cattle  lying on the roads with dungs uncleaned. At last I reached Thirupati the capital city of Andra Pradesh.


This city is very big and quite clean compared to Chennai. I saw  agriculture research station, universities and big temples here. I was told the the Tamils always come here to worship and bald their heads.


The climate in Thirupati was a little bit cooler and sunnier. The soil was fertile and it was grown with peanuts before. My mission is to see whether the climate and soil is suitable for dragon fruits growing there in Andra Pradesh. From my observation, dragon fruits is very suitable to be grown there basically the soil is good and not waterlogged. If dought occurs, water could be tapped from groundwater. Also, there was a lot of organic matter from cowdungs.Labour is readily available and there are many areas potentially to be grown. I was told that mangoes price was 20 INR (RM1.40).per kg. and much of the mango areas were not looked properly. Mangoes was not  flowering at that time and fruiting once a year compared to dragon fruits which is flowering  and fruiting all year round.
I could conclude that;
1. Introduction of dragon fruits to India is very potential and profitable business IF provide with good management.
2.Consumers always like to try new exotic fruits particularly if they know medicinal value.
3.Dragon fruits could  bear fruits  very early - one year after planting.
4.The climate is suitable, organic fertilizer, labour is available.
5.Market demand is very huge.


More readings (in Malay version ) at http://zainudinhajimeon.blogspot.com/


Some of the pics from my visit. If there are any queries I am happy to entertain ; pls forward your email to zainudinhaji@gmail.com  or simply call me at +060123535411.


Mr.Ali showing me the area to be planted with dragon fruits.

Workers in preparation  of concrete poles for fencing

Clay mineral soil suitable for dragon fruits.

Self-made concrete pole

Behind-some of the fruits like papaya, watermelons, sold  in the supermarket


41 comments:

sara said...

Mr.Ali

Tirupathi is not a capital city of Andhra pradesh. Hyderabad is the capital city

nilesh said...

Dear sir,
Myself Nilesh Chavan from Maharashtra (India) having own grapes farm at Nashik (Maharashtra).I am interested to start cultivation of dragon fruit at my own farms . Please send me detail cultivation practices and plantation material supplier in India
Ma email id
nileshchavan47@gmail.com
+91-9673314911

nilesh said...

Dear sir,
Myself Nilesh Chavan from Maharashtra (India) having own grapes farm at Nashik (Maharashtra).I am interested to start cultivation of dragon fruit at my own farms . Please send me detail cultivation practices and plantation material supplier in India
Ma email id
nileshchavan47@gmail.com
+91-9673314911

nilesh said...

Dragon Fruit plants avalible for plantation in maharashtra

for advance booking please call at 9673314911 after 8.00 pm to 10.00 pm only


booking on phone

Unknown said...



Dear sir,
Myself Onkar Cheke from Vidharbha Maharashtra (India) having own orange farm at mulawa,tq. umarkhed, Dist. yeotmal (Maharashtra).I am interested to start cultivation of dragon fruit at my own farms . Please send me detail cultivation practices and plantation material supplier in India
Ma email id
pnkjthakur91@gmail.com
call @ +919405375618

nilesh said...

we got flowers on dragon fruit plants.. its amazing... no need of any special cultivation practice.. just plant it.. required very less water... last summer it was hard to grow but still plants are working well

Unknown said...

Dear sir,
Myself SATISH REDDY from ANDHRA PRADESH (India) having own DRUM STICK FORM .I am interested to start cultivation of dragon fruit at my own farms . Please send me detail cultivation practices and plantation material supplier in India
My email id
ssatishreddy@gmail.com
9246241116

with regards
satish reddy

Unknown said...

Dear sir,
Myself SATISH REDDY from ANDHRA PRADESH (India) having own DRUM STICK FORM .I am interested to start cultivation of dragon fruit at my own farms . Please send me detail cultivation practices and plantation material supplier in India
My email id
ssatishreddy@gmail.com
9246241116

with regards
satish reddy

Titto said...

Hello sir,
This is Rajeev from Titto's Food craft, primarily a food processing and event management company, we are looking to get into the cultivation of dragon fruits in Our farm house. Please guide and help us into he same and do send us your proposal for the same.

Many thanks and best regards
Rajeev Vashisht
Bangalore India
+91- 9844030609 / 9845030609.
tittosfoodcraft@gmail.com.

Unknown said...

we want sell our domain [www.dragonfruitplantssuppliers.com]
contact web master at www.worldwidewebhosting.co.in

Unknown said...

Dear sir,
Dipak Maity from West Bengal(India) having 2 bighas of land.I am interested to start cultivation of dragon fruit at my land . Please send me detail cultivation practices and plantation material supplier near to me.My email id
ddipakmaity@gmail.com
+91-9836818981

Unknown said...

Dear sir where get dragon fruit plant near bangalore

Unknown said...

Dear sir, my self giyas kazi from west bengal, and i want to cultivation of dragon fruit in my area but i have no much information about that. so please sir, send me the information of how to grow dragon fruit. My email id is - giyaskazi@gmail.com thank you.

Unknown said...

Dear sir,
Myself Samadhan ghare from Maharashtra (India) having own Sugarcane farm at pune (Maharashtra).I am interested to start cultivation of dragon fruit at my own farms . Please send me detail cultivation practices, plantation material supplier in India & market information
Ma email id
samadhanghare@gmail.com
+91-7588622043

Dilip Bhanderi said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Dilip Bhanderi said...

Si,my self Dilip Bhanderi, I am from gujarat , N I am very much interested in dregonfruit farming, plz give me link of planting material..
Mo No:8758726566
Mail ID:dilipbhanderi3@gmail.com

curg said...

Dear Mr.Ali,
I have 10 acres of coffee and Pomegranate plantation. I am interested in cultivating Half acre of Dragon Fruit. Pls give me more details abt your farm. I want to visit once.
Contact me at igchinnappa(at)yahoo.com

Unknown said...

We are supplier of farm fresh dragon fruits and Dragon fruit plants. Cuttings from mother plants near Akluj. Solapur. 09552999233

Unknown said...

We are cultivativating dragon fruits from 7 years. We also supply its plants, cuttings. Farming info, management etc.
09552999233

RAKESH.S.B said...

Dear sir
where do we get dragon fruit plant near bangalore

Anji Prasad 4BS said...

I am Anji prasad interested in cultivating dragon fruit near hyderabad, is any cultivation around hyderabad.
7702577567

Anji Prasad 4BS said...

I am Anji prasad interested in cultivating dragon fruit near hyderabad, is any cultivation around hyderabad.
7702577567

Unknown said...

sir I am near hyderabad I am intrested in cultivation of dragon fruit please inform formers details in telangana and andhrapradesh mail id mvt5559@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Dragon fruit cuttings available on wholesale price. 09552999233

Unknown said...

Dragon fruit cuttings available on wholesale price. 09552999233

Unknown said...

I am also interested to cultivate dragon fruit send the details to bussireddy.samba@gmail.com

jagans222 said...

Hai I am jagadesh I am from madanapalli very near to Tirupathi. And basically I am a organic farmer. And a indigenous cow breeder.I am interested in growing dragon fruit cultivation in 5acres. My contact num 09866013046

jagans222 said...

Hai I am jagadesh I am from madanapalli very near to Tirupathi. And basically I am a organic farmer. And a indigenous cow breeder.I am interested in growing dragon fruit cultivation in 5acres. My contact num 09866013046

Unknown said...

Dragon fruit cuttings / rooted saplings are available in the Sanika Nursery, Mangalore, Karnataka call 9483499735

Madhu said...

Hi,
I am planning to start dragon fruit plantation Near Tumkur, Karnataka. Any one selling plants or cuttings. let me know the cost of each plant and variety. pls call to my no 9480224757

Unknown said...

I am interested in Dragon fruit cultivation please send me details to sr.pabbathi@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I am interested in Dragon fruit cultivation please send me details to sr.pabbathi@gmail.com

Veerdhaval J. said...

Dragon fruit plants n cuttings available. High yield variety. www.dragonfruitindia.in
09552999233

Veerdhaval J. said...

Cutting 25/- and plant 35/-

Veerdhaval J. said...

Cutting 25/- and plant 35/-

Veerdhaval J. said...

Dragon fruit plants n cuttings available. High yield variety. www.dragonfruitindia.in
09552999233

Unknown said...

I am also interested to cultivate dragon fruit send the details to
patidar765.mp@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I am also interested to cultivate dragon fruit send the details to
patidar765.mp@gmail.com

Raoo said...

I'm interested in farming dragon fruit.Pls send me details, is it suitable for costal climatic conditions .I want to grow this in part of coconut plantation.Pls mail details on Bhaskar.andhavarapau@gmail.com.

Unknown said...

I am also interested in planting dragon papaya fruit. Now I have small fruit nursery in mp But I will try to more.

Unknown said...

I am from West Bengal .Want to buy Dragon fruit cuttings of Red variety.
Please let me know what price it will be?
suvendu.suvo@gmail.com
9831164810