Blossoming hub of dragon fruit cultivation: Mirzapur leads UP's 260-hectare expansion; govt plans support centre
Dragon fruit cultivation is gaining traction in Uttar Pradesh, particularly in Mirzapur, due to its profitability and health benefits
LUCKNOW: The cultivation of dragon fruit or 'Kamalam', an exotic fruit originally from Central America and Mexico which is emerging as a super crop worldwide given its health and medicinal benefits, is emerging as a profitable venture in Uttar Pradesh.
Dragon fruit is tolerant to abiotic stresses, pests, and diseases. It has a low requirement for water and nutrients, gives multiple harvests in a year, sustains high yield up to 20 years, and has high nutraceutical and functional properties, being rich in antioxidants and fibers.
Though it is highly perishable, having a shelf life of 5-7 days at ambient Indian conditions, it can be processed into various value-added products.
Dragon Fruit In India& Uttar Pradesh
Though dragon fruit was introduced in India in the late 1990s and between 2005 and 2017 the area under its cultivation increased from 4 to 400 hectares in different states, it wasn't until 2024 that Uttar Pradesh embraced this exotic fruit on a commercial scale, with Mirzapur emerging as a key player.
According to the eye-estimated data (based on interaction with farmers and ocular estimates) of the state horticulture department, dragon fruit is commercially grown over 260 hectares in UP, and the average yield per hectare was nine metric tonnes in 2024-25.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
「早くやって」1日たった10秒で体重が…
大正製薬
続きを読む
Undo
The most commonly grown variety of the fruit in UP is red-skinned with red flesh.
'The initial investment is high for growing dragon fruit, as it requires making cemented pillars for plants to grow and take support of,' said sources in the horticulture department.
However, it is one of the fastest returning perennial fruit crops, assuming full production within five years of plantation. Given the lesser number of commercial producers of dragon fruit in the country and an ever-increasing demand because of its health and medicinal benefits, its cultivation is a profitable venture.
Under the centrally-sponsored Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) scheme, farmers in the country are given a 40% subsidy on the input cost of over Rs 6,75,000 lakh per hectare for the commercial cultivation of dragon fruit, provided the survival of the crop is 80% in the first year.
Mirzapur, The New Hub
Commercial cultivation of dragon fruit is being carried out in several districts in UP, such as Sonbhadra, Jaunpur, Kushinagar, Prayagraj, Gorakhpur, Basti, Ambedkarnagar, Hardoi, Ghazipur, and Barabanki.
However, it is Mirzapur that has taken the lead as its climate has proven particularly conducive to dragon fruit cultivation, allowing the crop to flourish.
In 2024-25, the region cultivated crops over 100 hectares, out of a total of 260 hectares where the crop was grown in UP in the last financial year.
As Mirzapur continues to cultivate this vibrant fruit, it not only boosts the local economy but also positions itself as a pivotal hub in the agricultural landscape.
The Way Ahead
In 2025-26, the state govt plans to bring in 200 hectares more under dragon fruit cultivation in the state by covering new farmers under the scheme.
Not only this, the govt is also considering setting up an exclusive centre of excellence for dragon fruit in Mirzapur's Deoria Kalan village to provide high-quality planting material to farmers and train them in its cultivation and processing.
'The reason why the govt is encouraging more and more farmers to grow it on a commercial level is because it can be grown in a wide range of agro-climatic zones, including areas of high temperature and water scarcity regions,' said sources. The govt is keen to promote its commercial cultivation in the Bundelkhand and Vindhya regions.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Doctors remove 15cm spoon from body of Chinese man: Patient thought it was a dream; traces it back to Thailand drinking episode
Representative image A 29-year-old Chinese man unknowingly lived with a 15cm coffee spoon inside his body for nearly six months after accidentally swallowing it while being intoxicated in Thailand. The man, identified as Yan, only discovered the foreign object when he visited a doctor in Shanghai in June, suspecting he had swallowed plastic while eating takeaway food. Instead, scans revealed a ceramic spoon lodged in his duodenum, the first part of the small intestine. Doctors at Shanghai Zhongshan Hospital said the spoon's location was extremely risky. Even slight movement could have led to a puncture in the intestine, causing inflammation or serious internal bleeding, reported South China Morning Post. Yan then recalled a hazy incident during a trip to Thailand in January. After heavy drinking, he had tried to use a coffee spoon to induce vomiting. The spoon slipped from his hand and slid down his throat. He later blacked out and, upon waking, believed it had all been a dream. He blamed his stomach pain on vomiting. Back in Shanghai, Yan resumed his normal life, including regular workouts, with no major health problems. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Thị trường có dấu hiệu suy thoái không? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo It wasn't until the medical checkup that the truth came to light. On June 18, doctors performed endoscopic surgery to remove the spoon. The initial attempt using a snare forceps failed due to the spoon's slippery surface. Zhou Hongping, head of the hospital's endoscopy center, then led a more complex procedure using two forceps to drag the spoon into the stomach before switching tools for successful removal. The entire process took 90 minutes. Yan has since recovered and been discharged. He expressed relief that the spoon was found by chance before it caused any major harm. The bizarre case follows another recent incident in China where a 64-year-old man discovered a 17cm toothbrush had been inside his body for 52 years. He had accidentally swallowed it at age 12 and never told anyone, hoping it would dissolve on its own.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Why is cancer becoming shockingly common among Indians in their 20s and 30s? Oncologists blame this virus
A growing number of cancer doctors in India are warning that Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is quickly becoming a leading cause of cancer among young people in their twenties and thirties. Doctors say that more and more cases of cervical, oral, and throat cancers are being seen in younger patients, and many of them are linked to HPV infection. Experts are now urging the government to treat this as a preventable health crisis that needs urgent action. 'HPV Cancers Coming Earlier Than Ever' Speaking to PTI, Dr Ashish Gupta, Chief of Medical Oncology at Amerix Cancer Hospital, New Delhi, said, 'HPV-related cancers are striking far earlier than we used to see. Patients in their twenties are coming in with cervical, oral, and throat cancers, many of which could have been avoided with timely vaccination and awareness.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Direct Shopping From Adidas Franchise Store, Up To 50% Off Original Adidas Shop Now Undo He added, 'The saddest part is, this is a preventable disease, but many people still don't know the risk.' HPV is one of the most common viruses passed on through intimate skin contact. While most HPV infections go away on their own, some types can stay in the body and cause cancer, especially cervical cancer in women, and throat and mouth cancers in both men and women. Live Events Silent and Fast-Spreading Doctors say the scary part is that these cancers often have no early symptoms. 'A young woman with no pain or bleeding might already have signs of cervical cancer,' said Dr Shubham Garg, Senior Oncologist at Dharamshila Narayana Superspeciality Hospital. 'Or a young man with HPV might not know anything is wrong until a tumour appears in the throat.' Experts also say that social stigma around HPV, which is sexually transmitted, is stopping families from talking about it or taking the vaccine seriously. Vaccination Is Key, But India Lags Behind India does not yet have a national HPV vaccination programme for all teenagers. The vaccine is available in private clinics, but many people can't afford it or don't know about it. Studies around the world have shown that giving the vaccine to both boys and girls before they become sexually active can stop the virus from spreading, and can hugely reduce cancer cases later in life. Doctors are calling for urgent steps: HPV vaccination for all pre-teens across India Catch-up vaccines for older teens and young adults Free or low-cost screening at public hospitals Public awareness campaigns to remove the stigma 'Let's Not Waste This Chance' Dr Gupta said, 'We must normalise HPV screenings like we do for diabetes or blood pressure. Pap smears, HPV DNA tests, and oral exams should be available in every district.' He also stressed the need for better insurance coverage. 'No one should skip a vaccine or test because of cost. These are preventable cancers . In oncology, we rarely get such a clear chance to stop a disease before it starts.' Dr Rahul Bhargava from Fortis Hospital in Gurugram added, 'Every child we vaccinate is one less person suffering from cancer in the future. Early screening can save lives. Prevention is not just better than cure here – it's the only smart way forward.' Inputs from PTI
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
‘Mann ki Baat': WHO declares India free of Trachoma, says PM Modi
In his monthly 'Mann Ki Baat' programme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (June 29, 2025) said that India has been declared free of Trachoma — an eye disease. In the 123rd episode, Mr. Modi said, 'I am delighted to share with you that World Health Organisation [WHO] had declared India free of Trachoma, an eye disease.' Trachoma is a bacterial infection of the eyes caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. It's a leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide, particularly in impoverished areas with poor access to clean water and sanitation. 'International Labour Organisation has said over 64% of Indian population is getting some form of social protection benefit,' PM Modi noted. 'Over 95 crore Indians now benefitting from some social security scheme, govt schemes reached less than 25 crore people in 2015,' he added.
