POINGUINIM: A farmer from Poinguiniaim, Canacona, has found only plants that can produce Goan farmers incompetent income, produce quality export fruit when cultivated even on barren and desert in cave.
Ajit aka Vasudev Pai, from Khawat in Poinguinim, has bought 2,000 dragon fruit plants from Shirdi, Maharashtra, and, for his pleasant surprises, they have given birth to fruit in less than a year.
The central government promotes beneficial exotic fruit cultivation, and, with pie results, Goa will be the latest addition to the list of countries producing it.
The latest dragon fruit batch, or Kaba, exported from Sangli in Maharashtra to Dubai on Saturday.
“This plant is perfect for the soil of Goan and for the humid climate.
One can plant it even where the land may not be fertile.
Because this plant comes from the cactus family, it requires a little water.
It can grow on any land.
I got results in One year to plant it.
And every factory gives around 30 pieces, “said PAI, who had previously won the State Krishi Vibhushan award.
The only investment needed is the cement pole for support (it is climbers) and, after reaching a height of five feet, a ring to rest.
Dragon fruit contains fiber and is rich in nutritional value, because it helps improve cell damage caused by oxidative stress and reduce inflammation, while also increasing the digestive system.
Fruit saw PM Narendra Modi praised Kutch farmers for his cultivation in the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ program in July 2020.
This is a truly new plantation in Goa, with PAI into the first progressive farmer to adopt and raise this plant in a commercial way.
“Fruit branches are cut and used as puppies for further planting.
It does not need regular water supply except during the extreme summer.
Fruits are harvested from May to October.
This has a very low mortality rate,” said PAI.
In the local market, dragon fruit can be purchased for RS 50-75 per piece depending on availability, which is a better level than farmers who can take existing plants such as bananas and pineapple.
Pai has begun to promote his cultivation in his environment in Canacona.
Ulhas Phaldesai has now cultivated 100 plants in an area of 1,000 square meters, while Babu Komarpant has raised 200 plants over an area of 2,000 square meters, taking puppies from PAI.
In the high elevation area canacona taluka, where the availability of water is increasingly becoming a problem, dragon fruit can appear as a solution for affected farmers, they feel.
At present, fruit, who already has a market in Goa, is imported from Malaysia and Thailand.
Canacona farmers hope to meet local demand in the state with their production.
Agriculture Officers Canacona Zonal Kirtiraj rises Gaonkar says that the fruit is best suitable for tropical climates such as cave.
Saturday saw Agriculture Director Nevil Alphonso visited Pai’s Farm to examine dragon fruit plants.
“This might be the first dragon fruit plant in Goa,” he said.
“We now grow this plant on our farm in Kodar and Kalay as a demonstration to observe its performance.
Once we are sure to feasibility of its economy, it will be promoted among farmers in Goa.” Starting this year, the State Agriculture Department will provide subsidies to farmers This exotic plant, he said.
Enter a Dragon: In Canacona, the new fruit is exotic rooted
