Successfully grows dragon fruit on 4 acres
Conserving groundwater while earning around ₹12 lakh annually
Barnala, July 12
Progressive farmer Satnam Singh of Village Thullewal in Barnala district has emerged as a shining example of crop diversification by successfully cultivating dragon fruit. Besides earning an impressive annual income, he is making a significant contribution towards groundwater conservation, as the crop requires only a fraction of the water consumed by conventional paddy cultivation.
Satnam Singh, son of Harbant Singh, has been cultivating dragon fruit on four acres. Inspired by successful dragon fruit growers in Gujarat, he began the venture in 2016 on just two kanals of land. Encouraged by positive results, he gradually expanded the cultivation to four acres. Currently, dragon fruit is grown on three acres in the open using concrete poles, while one acre is under a shade net house, which he established about two-and-a-half years ago to protect the crop from extreme summer heat and winter frost.
Satnam Singh said he is the first farmer in Barnala district to start cultivation of dragon fruit under a shade net house. The experiment has yielded excellent results, with higher productivity and larger-sized fruits compared to open-field cultivation. He said that an acre of dragon fruit produces nearly 40 quintals of fruit in a season, while the yield under the shade net house is even higher. The fruit fetches between ₹150 and ₹250 per kilogram in the market, enabling him to earn an annual net income of nearly ₹12 lakh from four acres after meeting cultivation expenses.
The crop starts giving full commercial yield after two years of planting, while harvesting continues from July to November. According to him, dragon fruit offers returns many times higher than the traditional wheat-paddy cropping system. He cultivates the American Beauty variety and markets his produce under the brand name “Dragon Farm Thullewal” in 10-kg packs across Mansa, Bathinda, Ludhiana and several other districts. Satnam Singh said he chose dragon fruit cultivation because of the rapidly declining groundwater table in the region. This crop requires only a minimal amount of water and is irrigated merely four times a year through a drip irrigation system. He added that the cost of cultivation is comparatively low, as the crop requires very little irrigation and minimal use of pesticides. He also uses slurry from his household biogas plant as an organic nutrient source, making the farming system more sustainable and eco-friendly.
For installing the drip irrigation system, he availed 80 percent subsidy through the Soil Conservation Department, Barnala. He also received 50 percent subsidy from the Horticulture Department for setting up the shade net house, amounting to nearly ₹14 lakh. He had initially established the shade net house for cucumber cultivation before successfully introducing dragon fruit.
Besides fruit production, he also raises and sells dragon fruit saplings throughout the year, providing an additional source of income. Each sapling is sold for ₹50–60, and his plants are supplied to farmers in Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and other states. Satnam Singh further said that dragon fruit is a long-term perennial crop. The space between rows allows him to grow vegetables, turmeric and other intercrops, generating additional income while making efficient use of available land.
He added that adopting dragon fruit cultivation has helped him move away from the conventional wheat-paddy cycle, significantly reduce water consumption and improve the overall health of his soil. Deputy Director ( Horticulture) Barnala, Malkiat Singh said that the Punjab Government provides 50 percent subsidy for establishing new fruit orchards as well as shade net houses, encouraging farmers to adopt horticulture and diversify towards high-value crops.
Satnam Singh is a Role Model for Farmers: Deputy Commissioner
Deputy Commissioner Harpreet Singh, IAS praised Satnam Singh for setting an inspiring example of crop diversification and water conservation through dragon fruit cultivation. He said the Thullewal farmer is not only earning a sustainable income but is also contributing meaningfully towards conserving precious groundwater resources. He described Satnam Singh as a role model for other farmers in the district.
The Deputy Commissioner added that Punjab Government provides 50 percent subsidy for establishing new fruit orchards as well as shade net houses, encouraging farmers to adopt horticulture and diversify towards high-value crops. Goverment also provides 80 percent subsidy on drip irrigation systems.
He encouraged farmers interested in dragon fruit and other horticultural crops to take advantage of these schemes and adopt sustainable farming practices.
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