Dragon fruit turns dry Ramechhap fields into profitable orchards
Summary
Dragon fruit farming is rapidly expanding across Ramechhap as farmers convert dry, underproductive land into profitable orchards. Strong demand and prices of up to Rs 350 per kilogram are encouraging more growers to adopt the crop.
Key Points
- Dragon fruit cultivation is spreading across Ramechhap, especially in Manthali, Ramechhap Municipality, Khandadevi, Gokulganga and Likhu Tamakoshi.
- Farmers say the crop is attractive because it grows on dry land, needs less labour and can produce fruit twice a year.
- Orchard-gate prices have reached Rs 300 to Rs 350 per kilogram, making dragon fruit more profitable than many traditional crops.
- Some farmers are also combining dragon fruit with marigold, vegetables and other crops to earn from the same land year-round.
