Agro-Climatic Suitability & Soil Requirements
Dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus and Hylocereus costaricensis) is a climbing epiphytic cactus native to Central America that thrives in tropical and subtropical regions of India including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Rajasthan.
The crop requires sandy-loam soils with good internal drainage and a pH range of 5.5 to 7.0. It tolerates poor soils but cannot survive waterlogging.
| Parameter | Commercial Recommendation | Management Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Trellis System | RCC Pole (2m height) with top ring | 4 saplings planted around each pole |
| Plant Spacing | 3.5m x 3.0m or 3.0m x 2.5m | 450 to 500 poles per acre (1,800 - 2,000 plants) |
| Variety Types | Red flesh / Red skin & White flesh / Red skin | Red flesh varieties command higher market prices |
| Irrigation Method | Drip micro-irrigation (2 drippers/pole) | Requires only 2-3 liters of water per pole every 3 days |
Acre-Wise Cost Breakdown & Economic Analysis
Year 1 involves capital investment, while commercial fruiting begins in Year 2 and peaks from Year 3 onward:
Key Exam Takeaways:
- 500 RCC Poles with circular concrete rings: ₹1,80,000 - ₹2,20,000.
- 2,000 Rooted Cutting Saplings @ ₹40-50 each: ₹80,000 - ₹1,00,000.
- Drip Irrigation Network & Fertigation Filter: ₹35,000 - ₹45,000.
- Manure, Bio-fertilizers & Labor: ₹45,000 - ₹60,000.
- Total First Year Capital Outlay: ₹3,40,000 - ₹4,25,000.
- Year 3+ Yield: 8 to 10 tonnes per acre. At an average wholesale price of ₹80 to ₹120 per kg, gross revenue is ₹8,00,000 to ₹11,00,000, yielding net profits of ₹6,00,000 to ₹8,50,000 per acre.
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